From Writers in the Storm:
Some of the smallest words in English (and other languages) are pronouns, but they have a profound impact on meaning and emotions. Using them well in our writing is a powerful shortcut to help our readers.
Pronouns can be proclamations of our psyches to the world, about how we feel about ourselves and others around us. Pronouns can bring us comfort and they can bring us pain. Pronouns can drive us to rage or drop us into tears.
Pronouns are declarations separating us from them. They can bring us together. And they can accuse them.
Sit with this simple sentence for a moment:
Look at what they are doing to my city.
More than likely when you read that sentence, your inner voice reacted. How did it make you feel? What did it make you think about?
Consider this sentence below and notice what changing the pronouns does to the tone, feel, and imagery.
Look at what we are doing to our city.
Pronouns are debated in Washington. Laws are made surrounding them. The usage of the right pronoun can make us feel included. Conversely, the misuse or misattribution of a pronoun can be used as a weapon.
It is for these reasons that the proper use and care of pronouns should be given in our writing. All our writing: articles, books, emails, and social media. As writers, we have a responsibility to use pronouns with the highest level of ethics and personal moral standards.
Link to the rest at Writers in the Storm