Point of view

Point of view, often abbreviated POV, is a subjective stance or perspective on a given topic.

In literature, the point of view, or viewpoint (see perspective for the more general and visual sense of this term), is the related experience of the narrator - not that of the author. Authors expressly cannot, in fiction, insert or inject their own voice, as this challenges the suspension of disbelief. The reader must identify with the narrator, not the author.

There is first-person, second-person, and third-person point of view. In a novel, first-person is most common. In self-help or business writing, the second person (addressing "you") is most common. In an encyclopedia or textbook it is most common to work in the third-person, passive voice.

The ability to use viewpoint effectively is one measure of someone's writing ability. This fact is reflected by the writing markschemes used for National Curriculum assessments in England where marks are awarded for the use of viewpoint as part of a wider judgement regarding the composition and effect of the text.

When the abbreviation "POV" is used on Wikipedia when talking about an article, it usually means that the article has bias. That is, the author has inserted what is overtly their own view, rather than citing authorities or evidence. See also: Wikipedia:Neutral point of view for policy recommendations on avoiding a personal point of view when editing pages.