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Ask HN: I versus We

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Ask HN: I versus We

#1
When writing a post, newsletter, or really anything for your site, startup, or freelance job where you're the only author/worker/employee, is it best to use I or We? I struggle with whether to use I or we in blog posts when I'm the only writer on the site. On other sites I write for, I use we always, but on my own where there's no other person for the we, it seems odd.

Thoughts, Opinions? What do you usually do?

Re: Ask HN: I versus We

#2
I try to use "I" whenever possible. It makes the message more personal and invites comments and replies. "We" is best when talking about collective decisions.

Re: Ask HN: I versus We

#3
If it seems odd, don't do it. If you're the only person, I think it's fine just to use 'I'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majestic_plural ;)

'In a frequently-repeated story, United States Navy Admiral Hyman G. Rickover told a subordinate who used the royal we: "Three groups are permitted that usage: pregnant women, royalty, and schizophrenics. Which one are you?"'

Re: Ask HN: I versus We

#4

If it seems odd, don't do it. If you're the only person, I think it's fine just to use 'I'. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majestic_plural ;) 'In a frequently-repeated story, United States Navy Admiral Hyman G. Rickover told a subordinate who used the royal we: "Three groups are permitted that usage: pregnant women, royalty, and schizophrenics. Which one are you?"'

Thanks ... that looks like the link I needed :)

And the quote that (possibly) comes from Mark Twain is great, too: "Only kings, presidents, editors, and people with tapeworms have the right to use the editorial 'we.'"

Perhaps it's the editors part where bloggers get the idea to use we on everything...

Re: Ask HN: I versus We

#5
In addition to the comments already made about sounding personal, pregnant women, royalty, and the schizophrenic, sometimes I use "we" to mean "us both - you, the reader, and me, the author." With that in mind, some places where "we" would otherwise sound wrong suddenly become normal/sensible/reasonable.

Re: Ask HN: I versus We

#6

In addition to the comments already made about sounding personal, pregnant women, royalty, and the schizophrenic, sometimes I use "we" to mean "us both - you, the reader, and me, the author." With that in mind, some places where "we" would otherwise sound wrong suddenly become normal/sensible/reasonable.

Ah, very good point. We've all experienced situations where this would be true ;)

Re: Ask HN: I versus We

#10
If you use 'we', better have a good answer when someone asks who else works with you or you'll seem douchy. I don't see anything wrong in using 'we' if you have coworkers, even if they're remote or work occasionally on demand. If you're completely on your own, use 'I'.

However, I've heard anectodes about one-man/woman businesses where a person fakes there's more people in the office. Seems dumb but sometimes it's needed and they had success with it, I don't think it suits your case though :)

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