Using You$-$Voice, We$-$Voice, I$-$Voice, and Impersonal Voice

In many cases, the subject of your sentences establishes the tone. By using you as the subject $($you$-$voice$),$ you place emphasis on others, often showing your concern for them. It is particularly well suited to describing how products and services benefit customers, clients, and colleagues. You$-$voice is often less effective for pointing out the mistakes of others. Also, it may sometimes be perceived as presumptuous or insincere to imply or directly state what you think others want or need, especially when you have an interest in them taking certain actions.

We$-$voice is a good way to focus on shared efforts, interests, and problems. It is particularly well suited to messages within a companj $($i$.$e$.,$ work team$).$ Like you$-$voice, it may come across as presumptuous when you speak on behalf of your group yet haven't reached agreement.

Excessive use of I$-$voice, particularly in writing, may be construed as self$-$centeredness. Overuse also diminishes the ability to focus on the interests of others $($you$-$voice$)$ or those of a team or group $($we$-$voice$).$ I$-$voice is best reserved for situations that involve bad news or difference of opinions. It is often used with nonthreatening verbs $($i$.$e$.,$ think, feel$).$

Impersonal voice $($not using you, we$,$ or I as the subject$)$ is used to emphasize rational and neutral analysis. It is well suited for explaining business ideas, especially in proposals and reports.

Group the sentences by their voice effectiveness. Move each label to the correct drop zone box. The notiss button next to a label provides more information.

Labels

You gain many benefits

Drop Zones

You$-$voice Ineffective $(1/4)$

You$-$voice Effective $(2/4)$

We$-$voice Ineffective $(3/4)$

You will agree