Day 7: Use you only when you are writing to or about the reader.
Writers often use you to express a general observation, but it results in incorrect information. Recently, I edited a graduate-level paper that repeatedly used you inappropriately. One sentence said, “When you are in a meeting with your boss, you need to respect his right to express his opinions.” My response was “But I am the boss!”
This statement did not apply to me, so the information in the sentence was incorrect. The principle being expressed might be true, but the delivery was wrong.
Here’s another example: “I like this store because they always give you a discount.” My response was “They never gave one to me!”
Unless you are writing to or about your reader, don’t use you.
Here’s how I revised those two sentences:
- “The boss has a right to express his opinions in meetings.”
- “I like this store because they always give me a discount.”
