When interviewers ask you to describe yourself, it’s a chance for you to share what makes you unique. Employers want to know your strengths, and they are interested in the ways that your unique qualities will benefit their organization. However, too often candidates over-play their strengths and fall into clichés. Instead, answer the question with strong adjectives that capture your personality and highlight your positive attributes without being obnoxious.
In the United States, the use of you is influenced by regional differences in pronunciation and accents. In some regions, the distinction between singular and plural you breaks down completely, and special forms such as you-all, you-uns, yez, or youse may be used. These are generally considered unsuitable for formal or educated speech, though they continue to be heard in some informal contexts.
The phrase so are you may be either a compliment or a deflection. If someone criticizes you, it’s often better to respond with “so are you” than to turn the criticism back on them with an angry retort such as “you’re a loud-mouthed jerk” or “it takes one to know one.” On the other hand, if the person is praising your behavior, this can be the perfect opportunity for you to respond with a complimentary retort, such as “you’re so sparkling and witty.”
If someone compliments your appearance, it’s perfectly acceptable to reply with “so are you,” but if they are telling you that something you do is bad, it isn’t appropriate to say so are you. This phrase is often used in children’s squabbles to expose the pettiness and stupidity of ad hominem attacks. It is also often used in satire and comedy, such as the Seinfeld sitcom’s bit about the soup Nazi.
Using the correct words is essential in writing and communication, but some pairs of homophones are more difficult to distinguish than others. For example, many people mix up you’re and your, a pair of similar-sounding verbs that are commonly confused because they both have an “are” component. In this article, we will look at the difference between these two words, provide some tips which will help you select the right word for each situation, and finish up with a quiz to test your knowledge.