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How do I rephrase "As a newbie, let me give you some advice" where "newbie" applies to the listener?

English Language & Usage Asked on February 16, 2021

I’ve come across phrases like the following.

As a veteran, let me give you some advice. (I am a veteran, so I can offer some advice.)

Usually, "veteran" refers to the speaker.

Sometimes, I hastily construct a similar phrase, with "newbie" instead of "veteran", but with the person spoken to being the newbie.

As a newbie, let me give you some advice. (You are the newbie, so I can offer some advice.)

This version strikes me as weird, and I usually rephrase. Could it ever be used in the second fashion, or is it strictly the first case (the noun referring to the speaker)?

I tried to rephrase to remove ambiguity:

  • Seeing that you are a newbie, let me give you some advice.
  • In light of you being a newbie, let me give you some advice.
  • It seems like you are a newbie, so let me give you some advice.

However, I feel these can be improved. The first two seem a bit condescending, and the third just makes an assumption where the original phrase states a fact.

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