Writing Boots

On communication, professional and otherwise.

You imagine your readers as a throng. But the reader, she rides alone.

02.05.2020 by David Murray // 2 Comments

One of the many hobby horses that I've acquired in three decades of gassing on about communication is: Writers should never address an audience in the plural.

As in, "Dear Readers," "Dear Colleagues" or "Dear IT Goons."

It should always be Reader, Employee, or Goon—singular. Because though you're addressing an audience of multitudes, each audience member is reading your words alone.

I've said it before—and now I'm saying it again, because I found the perfect illustration. 

Images-1How much less psychologically effective would it be if that poster read, "I want YOU PEOPLE for the U.S. Army"?

You do the same thing to yourself when you address your audience from your perspective, rather than imagining them in theirs.

Got that, writer?

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Comments

  1. Paul Engleman says

    February 6, 2020 at 3:08 pm

    Pardon my grammatical nitpcking, but YOU is both singular and plural. And in 1917, when Uncle Sam was recruiting volunteers, he was definitely looking to recruit more than one chap. But I agree with you about writing for one — because I always assume that I may be the only person (besides my editor) who reads anything I write, including this post.

    Reply
  2. David Murray says

    February 6, 2020 at 3:16 pm

    Stop that nitpicking, YOU!

    Reply

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