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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
English in UK
'You' instead of 'one' in scientific assay
Hallo,
spending a sunny bank holiday Monday indoors marking essays, I came across a wording which surprises me a bit (especially after some advice I was given here). Some students use phrases 'You can see', 'you may notice' etc instead of the - in my opinion more appropriate 'one can see', 'one notices' etc.
Although I appreciate that 'one' is not commonly used in spoken language (at least not by my students), I would expect to find it in written language, especially in an (mock) exam paper.
What do you think?
Best wishes,
Gunter
spending a sunny bank holiday Monday indoors marking essays, I came across a wording which surprises me a bit (especially after some advice I was given here). Some students use phrases 'You can see', 'you may notice' etc instead of the - in my opinion more appropriate 'one can see', 'one notices' etc.
Although I appreciate that 'one' is not commonly used in spoken language (at least not by my students), I would expect to find it in written language, especially in an (mock) exam paper.
What do you think?
Best wishes,
Gunter
Top answer
[nq:1]Hallo, spending a sunny bank holiday Monday indoors marking essays, I came across a wording which surprises me a bit ... students), I would expect to find it in written language, especially in an (mock) exam paper. [/nq] No.
- [nq:1]Hallo, spending a sunny bank holiday Monday indoors marking essays, I came across a wording which surprises me a bit ...
- students), I would expect to find it in written language, especially in an (mock) exam paper.
- [/nq] No.
- While as you say it is more correct than 'you' not many people use it as it has certain snobbish connotations for many.
- There is also the fact that when it is used, it is frequently used wrongly, Princess Anne is particularly prone to saying "one fell of one's horse" when she means "I fell off my horse".
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21 Answers
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[nq:1]Hallo, spending a sunny bank holiday Monday indoors marking essays, I came across a wording which surprises me a bit ... students), I would expect to find it in written language, especially in an (mock) exam paper. What do you think?[/nq]
No. While as you say it is more correct than 'you' not many people use it as it has certain snobbish connotations for many. There is also the fact that
No. While as you say it is more correct than 'you' not many people use it as it has certain snobbish connotations for many. There is also the fact that
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[nq:1]No. While as you say it is more correct than 'you' not many people use it as it has certain snobbish connotations for many.[/nq]
Even in a clearly formal context? In most scientific talks I've heard so far, 'one' was used instead of 'you'; however, these were mainly older people or foreigners (i.e. non native speakers).
[nq:1]There is also the fact that when it is used, it is frequen
Even in a clearly formal context? In most scientific talks I've heard so far, 'one' was used instead of 'you'; however, these were mainly older people or foreigners (i.e. non native speakers).
[nq:1]There is also the fact that when it is used, it is frequen
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[nq:2]No. While as you say it is more correct than 'you' not many people use it as it has certain snobbish connotations for many.[/nq]
[nq:1]Even in a clearly formal context? In most scientific talks I've heard so far, 'one' was used instead of 'you'; however, these were mainly older people or foreigners (i.e. non native speakers).[/nq]
I would never have used it when I lived in Britain, w
[nq:1]Even in a clearly formal context? In most scientific talks I've heard so far, 'one' was used instead of 'you'; however, these were mainly older people or foreigners (i.e. non native speakers).[/nq]
I would never have used it when I lived in Britain, w
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[nq:2]But this is a completely different situation, isn't it?[/nq]
[nq:1]I meant it as one of the reasons why average English people avoid it, they don't seem to be quite sure what it means or when to use it. I'm doing my best to educate them ;-)[/nq]
So do you think I should point this out to my students (after all, they will have to write essays for next few years), or do you think I sho
[nq:1]I meant it as one of the reasons why average English people avoid it, they don't seem to be quite sure what it means or when to use it. I'm doing my best to educate them ;-)[/nq]
So do you think I should point this out to my students (after all, they will have to write essays for next few years), or do you think I sho
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[nq:2]I meant it as one of the reasons why average ... use it. I'm doing my best to educate them ;-)[/nq]
[nq:1]So do you think I should point this out to my students (after all, they will have to write essays ... should rather keep it to myself (they are the native speakers; my experience with the English language is rather limited).[/nq]
You could perhaps approach it in a different way,
[nq:1]So do you think I should point this out to my students (after all, they will have to write essays ... should rather keep it to myself (they are the native speakers; my experience with the English language is rather limited).[/nq]
You could perhaps approach it in a different way,
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[nq:1]spending a sunny bank holiday Monday indoors marking essays, I came across a wording which surprises me a bit (especially ... students), I would expect to find it in written language, especially in an (mock) exam paper. What do you think?[/nq]
Both of the last two editions of Fowler raise objections to the mixture of generic 'one' with generic 'you' within a text. But generic 'you' clear
Both of the last two editions of Fowler raise objections to the mixture of generic 'one' with generic 'you' within a text. But generic 'you' clear
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[nq:1]Both of the last two editions of Fowler raise objections to the mixture of generic 'one' with generic 'you' within ... to be the more common form. I wouldn't mark anyone down for using it in writing, particularly when used consistently.[/nq]
I wouldn't mark them down (I'm anyaway just their supervisor), but I'd like to help them to write acceptable essays in their exam.
[nq:1](Anyway
I wouldn't mark them down (I'm anyaway just their supervisor), but I'd like to help them to write acceptable essays in their exam.
[nq:1](Anyway
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[nq:1]Hallo, spending a sunny bank holiday Monday indoors marking essays, I came across a wording which surprises me a bit ... students), I would expect to find it in written language, especially in an (mock) exam paper. What do you think?[/nq]
I was always taught to use the passive for this sort of thing. Not "you can see" or even "one" but "it can be seen that..." However, modern day thinkin
I was always taught to use the passive for this sort of thing. Not "you can see" or even "one" but "it can be seen that..." However, modern day thinkin
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[nq:1]I think I agree with you though, if the paper important and serious then it should be 'one' and not 'you' and that is what they should learn to use.[/nq]
Scientific papers have traditionally avoided the problem by using the passive voice, for example: "It can be seen that..." However that does make for rather heavy reading.
John Hall
"Acting is merely the art of keeping a la
Scientific papers have traditionally avoided the problem by using the passive voice, for example: "It can be seen that..." However that does make for rather heavy reading.
John Hall
"Acting is merely the art of keeping a la
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"Acting is merely the art of keeping a large group of people from coughing."
Sir Ralph Richardson (1902-83)
Which is not to be sneezed at :-)
John Briggs
Sir Ralph Richardson (1902-83)
Which is not to be sneezed at :-)
John Briggs
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