Generic you
The pronoun you (and its other forms) can be used as a generic or indefinite pronoun, referring to a person in general. A more formal equivalent is the indefinite pronoun one (reflexive oneself, possessive one's). For example, you should keep your secrets to yourself may be used in place of the more formal one should keep one's secrets to oneself.
Read more about this topic: Modern English Personal Pronouns
Famous quotes containing the word generic:
“Mother has always been a generic term synonymous with love, devotion, and sacrifice. Theres always been something mystical and reverent about them. Theyre the Walter Cronkites of the human race . . . infallible, virtuous, without flaws and conceived without original sin, with no room for ambivalence.”
—Erma Bombeck (20th century)