4 ms·
The plural pronoun "we" is used despite there only being one author.
by frozenport 11y ago
The plural pronoun "we" is used despite there only being one author.
- mabbo 11y agohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.D.C._Willard https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.D.C._Willard
- rubidium 11y agoThis is very common in academia. Not saying it makes sense. Just saying he's following the craft.
- geon 11y agoThe author + the reader?
- kej 11y agoI always heard it explained as the author plus everyone who laid the groundwork in the field. Sort of a standing-on-the-shoulders-of-giants thing.
- infimum 11y agoi always read it as a 'generalized' personal pronoun implying no particular subject (like 'man' in german or 'on' in french) which is nicer than writing everything in a passive voice.
- restalis 11y ago"You" for singular and plural seemed mind-narrowing to me at first too, until we... got accustomed to. Surely the trend can continue with other pronouns!
- itaibn 11y agoAnd gender-neutral singular "they" is steadily growing more popular!