[PW] ? You in academic writing

[Winters, Murl]

A patron working on her doctoral dissertation asked, "What is the
rationale for not using "you" in academic writing?" She wants an
authoritative source which tells its first use and information on how it
came to be a rule - which is widely passed on to academic authors.

She said she has found Brown & Gilman, "Pronouns of Power and
Solidarity" to be the best source for some of the rationale behind the
rule. She has consulted sociolinguists and also attorneys. At least one
attorney led her to believe it was a known fact in legal writing but did
not offer supporting documentation on its first use.  She said she had
learned it is also not used in debates.  She has found the use of "you"
to be called the 1) accusative, 2) objective, and 3) pejorative but does
not know if any of these terms is helpful in locating the authoritative
source for its first use.  She did indicate the "rule" may go back many
years/centuries.

Murl Winters

Associate Library Director

Evangel University

Springfield, MO 65802