The point of view of a piece of writing is the perspective from which it is written: first person (I or we), second person (you), or third person (he, she, it, one, they, or any noun).

The I (or we) point of view, which emphasizes the writer, is a good choice for informal letters and writing based primarily on personal experience. The you point of view, which emphasizes the reader, works well for giving advice or explaining how to do something. The third-person point of view, which emphasizes the subject, is appropriate in formal academic and professional writing.

Writers who have trouble settling on an appropriate point of view sometimes shift confusingly from one to another. The solution is to choose a suitable perspective and stay with it.

The writer should have stayed with the we point of view. You is inappropriate because the writer is not addressing readers directly. You should not be used in a vague sense meaning “anyone.” (See G3-b.)

You is an appropriate choice because the writer is giving advice directly to readers.