Shifts in Person
What's the Issue?
While sometimes shifts in person are required, unnecessary shifts in person confuse readers.
Examples
The following are the two most common mistakes with shifts in person:
Simple shift in person
Incorrect: One can do well in school if you budget your time.
Correct: You can do well in school if you budget your time.
Incorrect: I used to think my parents were fussy, but as you get older you become more tolerant.
Correct: I used to think my parents were fussy, but as I've gotten older, I've become more tolerant.
Misuse of "you" when the writer means "I"
Incorrect: You often get cold standing outside at a football game.
Correct: I often get cold standing outside at a football game.
Incorrect: You know how it feels painful to have an operation like I just did.
Correct: My operation was really painful.
*Notice in the corrected version of this example the subject switches to "operation" which clarifies the statement by exchanging the personal pronoun (you) with a concrete noun (operation). This can often be a good way to create clearer focus in a sentence and avoid the overuse of "you" as a subject.
Let's Practice
- I enjoy jogging because you feel so good when you quit.
- I like living in Florida because you have good weather all year.
- All those who intend to graduate should order your gowns immediately.
- If one has done all these exercises, you should get a perfect score on the final.
Possible Answers:
- I enjoy jogging because I feel so good when I quit.
- I like living in Florida because I have good weather all year.
- All those who intend to graduate should order their gowns immediately.
Or If you intend to graduate, you should order your gown immediately. - If you have done all these exercises, you should get a perfect score on the final.