Hello,
not really technically but something I am thinking a little bit about.
The questions is if it is more "professional" or "better" to write something with using the word "you" or something in more general like "it" and not addressing to any person.

Examples what i mean:
1) Before you can use this feature you have to enable it in the settings.
2) Before this feature can be used it has to be enabled in the settings.

1) While the tests nothing odd happened.
2) While my tests nothing odd happened.

As English is not my main language I would like to know which is better to use and which do you personally prefer in articles, reviews etc.

Only thing I came up with is that you should use whatever you choose for the whole article.

That would be nice and much appreciated.

The two sentences were just examples. I am writing all articles and reviews by myself of course, but personally I think it is better to write in a general style although the readers may then not be as appealed (hope this is the correct word for this) as in the other way.

Don may have some good advice for you here

I am not an English major, so I'm not sure if one is supposed to be better than the other.

As for your examples above, I would select #2 - "before this feature can be used it has to be enabled in the settings."

And also as you've mentioned, being consistent is key.

Hey UNIX,

Great thread as many ask about ways to boost their resume, and writing is definitley one of those ways.

Using "you" is considered less professional. So it depends on your style and the purpose of the writing. As an example, for an opinion piece to a tech crowd or something that is less formal, "you" is fine. For a press release, "you" is frowned upon.

As an aside, "you" is also recommended to be removed from your vocabulary when dealing with people in technical manners whether it is desktop support or reviewing reports from your pen tests. People react less harshly when you state a comment about a problem and don't use "you." Studies and experience show that they take it personally. Although as techies we could honestly say that it is their desktop or their organization, so it IS their fault. People just don't like to hear it. And thus the problems get resolved with less pain on both ends.

Hope that helps,
Don

I agree with don and unsupported.  I've written many reports (not related to IT) and have never used the second person ("you").  If I have to, I use the third person, but prefer to avoid the situation by rephrasing the sentences as suggested by unsupported.

I'd be happy to look through the article for you awesec, providing it isn't a 10,000 word thesis!

Hi awesec,

I agree, this is an interesting post.

I have to say that I am jealous of your English, it is very good considering that it is not your main language. I regret that as a native English speaker I never learned another language.

I agree with don, try to avoid the 'you' word; people take it personally and may get offended.

I like the http://www.guardian.co.uk/styleguide. It might not be what you are looking for but it hi-lights some of the more common errors in English writing.

Ants

I'm late on this, but for what little it is worth, I completely agree with unsupported.  Rephrasing to include as few words as possible (without using "you") is best.  It is an art though.  Luckily my wife majored in communications, so I have a proofreader at home.