[wp-trac] [WordPress Trac] #46057: Remove self-references ("we") in text in core

[WordPress Trac]

#46057: Remove self-references ("we") in text in core
------------------------------------+-----------------------------
 Reporter:  johnbillion             |       Owner:  (none)
     Type:  enhancement             |      Status:  new
 Priority:  normal                  |   Milestone:  Future Release
Component:  Text Changes            |     Version:  5.0.3
 Severity:  minor                   |  Resolution:
 Keywords:  dev-feedback has-patch  |     Focuses:  docs
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Comment (by marybaum):

 If it's a choice between we and using a passive verb, I'd rather use we.
 At a minimum, **we** can often refer to the reader and the writer -- you
 and me.

 I agree that in cases where **we** are making a policy decision, or the
 copy needs to make clear that a specific person or team, or contributors
 in a meeting, **we** (you and I) should specify who is doing what.

 Perhaps writers and copy editors could experiment with using **you and I**
 in place of the generic **we**, especially in support and error contexts.
 Of course, any time an error message starts referring to itself as I in
 any form, that starts to sound a little too much like the mission computer
 in 2001: A Space Odyssey 😜


 Replying to [ticket:46057 johnbillion]:
 > There are many text strings in WordPress core that reference the
 mysterious collective "we". Some examples:
 >
 > > PHP is the programming language we use to build and maintain
 WordPress.
 >
 > > Note to users of assistive technology: if you experience usability
 issues with the block editor, we recommend you continue to use the Classic
 Editor.
 >
 > > This format, which we call WordPress eXtended RSS or WXR, will contain
 your posts, pages, comments, custom fields, categories, and tags.
 >
 > > To learn more about what data we collect, and how we use it, please
 visit ...
 >
 > > If they don’t respect the WordPress license, we don’t
 recommend them.
 >
 > > Sit tight for a few more seconds while we update them as well.
 >
 > Some could pass as acceptable given the context (such as those on the
 About page), but most reference an unknown entity, and some cause switches
 between the grammatical person.
 >
 > Some just plain don't make sense:
 >
 > > The update cannot be installed because we will be unable to copy some
 files.
 >
 > > The ssh2 PHP extension is available, however, we require the PHP5
 function %s
 >
 > ----
 >
 > Text strings that reference "we" should be re-phrased so they no longer
 need to. For example:
 >
 > > PHP is the programming language that's used to build and maintain
 WordPress.
 >
 > > Note to users of assistive technology: if you experience usability
 issues with the block editor, you should continue to use the Classic
 Editor.
 >
 > One counter-argument might be that it reduces the personality of
 WordPress, but I think there are better ways to add personality to
 software than to reference a collective, unknown entity.
 >
 > Feedback welcome.

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Ticket URL: <https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/46057#comment:5>
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