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Me/Myself/I
One of
the most common grammar errors you see and hear today is the
me, myself and I problem. If you know the
correct way of using these words, it is irritating to find
them used incorrectly. One of my workshop participants said
that the misuse is like having someone scrape their fingernails
on a blackboard.
At my local gym,
one of the managers – a well-groomed young man –
often says “Come see myself.” His verbal image
does not support his outward appearance. However, bad grammar
is like having bad breath. Many notice and are bothered, but
few will point it out.
The concept
is quite simple. I is always the subject of the sentence.
Example: I finished the project.
Me
is always used as the object. (The object always follows a
verb or a preposition, e.g., in, on, of, by, into, between,
with or by.) Example: Please contact me.
(The object follows a verb.) Example: The report was written
by me. (The object follows a preposition.)
Myself
is a reflexive pronoun. It can only be used after a subject
or object pronoun. Example: I taught myself how to use
the program.
Here’s a
quick way to determine the correct pronoun when you have more
than one subject or object.
Example:
Paul Becevello, Greg Firth and ___________ presented the proposal
that was prepared by Tim Paul, Linda Mackay and ___________.
1. Mentally
delete the first part of the subject and object.
___________ presented the proposal that was prepared by ___________.
2. Enter the correct
pronouns.
I presented the proposal that was prepared by me.
3. Replace the
deleted material.
Paul Becevello, Greg Firth and I presented the proposal that
was prepared by Tim Paul, Linda Mackay and me.
4. You
could also insert the reflexive pronoun for emphasis. It would
be redundant, but it would be grammatically correct.
Paul Becevello, Greg Firth and I myself presented the proposal
that was prepared by Tim Paul, Linda Mackay and me myself.
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