Comment on "the public perspective" and "a public perspective" - a PPI professional's reflection on the tension...

The theoretical basis of the terminology and language used around patient and public involvement (PPI) and related methodologies is important. Though significant efforts have been made to understand identities and perspectives as more varied, diverse, and plural phenomena, it is important to continuously critique and analyse the language and concepts that we, as PPI professionals, researchers, and public collaborators use throughout our work and activities. In this comment piece, I use conceptual thinking and creative writing to reflect on my professional experience working in PPI to think critically and theoretically about a commonly used phrase in research and PPI spaces, the singular articles and nouns of the phrases, "the public perspective" and "a public perspective."