Re: Use of "your"

[Richard Yanowitz <ryanowit -at- NYCT -dot- NET>]

At 08:36 PM 7/16/97 -0500, Kris Olberg wrote:
>I was taught years ago--too many years, actually--that a writer or
>interface designer should not refer to items as being possessed, such as in
>"your mail," "your keyboard," "your clients," "your machine," etc.
>
>(1) why did we adopt this convention? (like I said, it's been too many
>years for me)

Archaic ideas of what is "polite," "formal," even "professional."  I
encountered this when I started as a tech writer 20 years ago, and my
strong belief is that the custom reflects anxiety over being perceived as
legitimate.

>(2) is this convention still widely practiced? was it ever widely
>practiced?

I don't know.  I stopped practicing it as soon as I could.

>(3) why or why not?

The right tone should be paramount.  I like "you" for developing a sense of
connection with the reader.  (I even try it with scholarship, than which no
context could be more priggish.)  I always believe that true
professionalism is making up your own rules as you go, in service of
clearer and more effective communication.



_________________________________________________________
Richard Yanowitz, NYC
ryanowitz -at- bigfoot -dot- com

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