Hi! I'm brand new to you site and I have a question (hoping I'm in the right forum - please move me if I'm not). I am helping to edit a game manual and I'm wondering, is it okay to switch between 2nd person (you/your) and 3rd person (each player)? It seems to flow okay in the manual - I'm just not sure what the right etiquette is. Does anyone have any advice?
Rule writing question
Wed, 10/10/2012 - 00:31
Wed, 10/10/2012 - 01:00
#1
Depends on what you mean by
Depends on what you mean by "switch".
Either is fine, but do stick with the same throughout the entire game manual / rule book. Don't go from one to another, It'll just add confusion.
Wed, 10/10/2012 - 01:20
#2
Writing game rules.
I agree with Mads321.
Wed, 10/10/2012 - 01:21
#3
Writing game rules.
I agree with Mads321.
Fri, 10/12/2012 - 09:52
#5
Why Switch?
You could write it all in the same voice. There is no need to switch. Personally, I find it jarring, but I'm just one English teacher with 25 years' experience.
Fri, 10/12/2012 - 11:47
#6
Why not just use the word
Why not just use the word "player" when only one player is supposed to do something and "players" or "each player" when all players are supposed to do something? So, pretty much like what you've done, but instead of "After your first turn you will --", you could have "After a player's first turn, he or she will --".
I'm not 100% sure if this is elegant in English or not, but at least it's great in my own language.
So it starts with 3rd person at the beginning, "Each player lays out . . . . " for setting up the game play. Thought it sounded awkward to say "You and your opponent both lay out . . . " for each item under setup.
Then it switches to 2nd person for the rest "After your first turn you will . . . "
It stays in the 3rd person from then out. Sound alright?
Thank you so much!!