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Lauren wrote:
>
>> Again, why avoid "you" in any content, procedural or otherwise?
>>
>
> It's rude and bossy, like finger pointing and it uses more (and unnecessary)
> words than not stating "you."
>
> Lauren
>
Is "you" rude and bossy in a face-to-face conversation with a friend? If
not, why would it be in a document?
This blog post from Kathy Sierra summarizes some of the points made
about conversational writing (including the use of "you") :
*http://tinyurl.com/cxto5*
Among others who recommend using "you" is Constance Hale (former _Wired_
editor and author of _Sin and Syntax__), who says:
"The second-person pronoun (you) lets the author hook the reader as if
in conversation. Call it cozy. Call it confiding. /_You_/ is a favorite
of the Plain English folks, who view it as an antidote to the stiff
impersonality of legalese and urge bureaucrats to write as if speaking
to the public... "
_You_ think it's rude and bossy; can _you_ cite any authorities who
support your opinion?
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