| Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993. |
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| one (pron.) |
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| Should one begin an impersonal statement with one, or should you start off with you? Style is the problem: one can sound very formal and self-consciously elevated, especially to Americans (the British use one much more frequently). You is clearly less formal and constrained, but it may sometimes seem a bit too relaxed, or at other times, too directive. | 1 |
| Assume one is the choice; should one continue with it or shift to you, she, he, or he or she (or one of its variants) or go to they, as in If one has time, he [she, he or she, you, they] ought to make full notes? To stick with one is to be consistent but also is to guarantee a stiff, impersonal tone. To shift to you is to achieve a more relaxed and direct tone at the cost of irritating those who believe shifting person (from third to second) in the same sentence is bad grammar. To shift to the plural they may be an affront to agreement but at least will not upset those opposed to the use of exclusive pronouns such as he or she. Best advice: for all but the most Formal prose, stick with you, and if you decide instead to begin with one, stay with it. The generic he may be acceptable in some of the most Formal prose, but many editors would rather that you use he or she or vary the pronoun, and some would even prefer they to he. Consistent use of any option is Standard, but switching options in midsentence is Nonstandard, clumsy, and to be avoided. See also INDEFINITE YOU; ONE OF THOSE WHO. | 2 |
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| | | The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. Copyright © 1993 Columbia University Press. |
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