Final answer:
The question concerns the use of second person singular formal, which traditionally uses third person verb forms.
Modern English trends toward using gender-neutral pronouns, preferring third-person plural pronouns for inclusivity.
In academic and formal writing, the third-person point of view dominates to maintain objectivity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question posed relates to grammatical person, specifically the second person singular formal, which in some languages uses verb forms that are conventionally associated with the third person.
In English, the third person singular pronouns are he, she, and it, used to refer to people or things.
However, there is a modern shift towards gender neutrality in language, where third-person plural pronouns (they/them) are being used as singular pronouns to include individuals of non-binary gender identities.
The notion of gender-neutrality is also present in academic writing where the third-person point of view is preferred for its emphasis on the information presented rather than the writer.
Furthermore, using third person in narrative styles, such as third-person limited and omniscient, allows the story to be told without direct reference to the narrator, unlike first-person narratives that use 'I,' 'me,' and 'we.'
Caution should be taken to maintain consistency in person, as writers can unintentionally slip into second person, which directly addresses the reader or an absent person, which should be avoided in formal or academic writing unless specifically intended.