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.

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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:

 
  1. “The boss has a right to express his opinions in meetings.”
  2. “I like this store because they always give me a discount.”