Addressing the reader? Forum

[zephyr36]

What's the consensus on the occasional use of "you" and 2nd person? Something like "While you may think..." I know it's a little hard without context, but what's the overally consensus?

[MdmMoisel]

Thats probably not a good idea. You don't know what the reader is thinking or what her perspective is, so how can you speak for her? Specially when you've sentences like 'i know you may think'..If I were reading it, I'd be like..whoa!!

[homestyle28]

I always think that those kind of sentences invite the reader to think "and I may not". If you have to keep the sentence, use the impersonal "one might think".

[patrickd139]

Thats probably not a good idea. You don't know what the reader is thinking or what her perspective is, so how can you speak for her? Specially when you've sentences like 'i know you may think'..If I were reading it, I'd be like..whoa!!

[downing]

I always think that those kind of sentences invite the reader to think "and I may not". If you have to keep the sentence, use the impersonal "one might think".

Yes

[northwood]

one might think not

keep your original thought, but change the entire sentence. Dont assume anything about the reader.

[ahduth]

I always think that those kind of sentences invite the reader to think "and I may not". If you have to keep the sentence, use the impersonal "one might think".

I always think to myself, this person sounds confident. Future litigator?

[homestyle28]

I always think that those kind of sentences invite the reader to think "and I may not". If you have to keep the sentence, use the impersonal "one might think".

I always think to myself, this person sounds confident. Future litigator?

I suppose that's the other side of the coin. I've always gotten conflicting feedback about confidence and tone in writing. Do you say, "It seems to me that X is the case" or "Clearly, X is the case"? Might come down to personal tastes.