Why can't I be me?
Like most grammar nerds, I’m amazed when I hear or read improper grammar from otherwise intelligent folks. In print, there are a few typical ones that send most writers and editors searching for a stiff drink, namely the “there,” “they’re,” “their” issue, as well as “your” vs. “you’re,” “affect” vs. “effect,” “its” vs. “it’s,” “then” vs. “than” … the list goes on and on.
One of my BIGGEST pet peeves, though, is people who can’t seem to figure out when to use “I” vs. “me.”
See, sometime back in our elementary school pasts, our teachers hammered into our heads the importance of using “I” properly, which is definitely important. The problem is, some of us apparently learned that “me” is never correct, which is, of course, just plain wrong.
For example, I’ll hear (or read) the following:
“Who wants to go to the store with Jess and I?”
Looks right, doesn’t it? I mean, it’s ALWAYS right to use “I,” isn’t it?
NO.
The correct way to say (or write) that would be: “Who wants to go to the store with Jess and me?”
But … but … but Ryan … YOU USED “ME!”
Yeah, I did. And I’ll do it again.
Here’s a really good test to help you figure out whether to use “I” or “me”: Just take out the other person. In the example above, you wouldn’t say, “Who wants to go to the store with I?,” so why would you say, “Who wants to go to the store with Jess and I?”
Yeah, it’s really that simple. Another example:
“He brought Jess and I a beer.”
Ummm … would you say, “He brought I a beer”? No, you wouldn’t. You’d say, “He brought me a beer,” so it must be right to say, “He brought Jess and me a beer.”
So when is “I” correct? Lots of times!
“Jess and I are going to the store.”
How do I know to use “I” there? Because I can say, “I am going to the store.” I would never say, “Me am going to the store,” so “I” must be correct.
A couple more examples of the correct way to use “I”:
“Jess and I thought about getting brownies, but settled on ice cream instead.”
“Did you know that Jess and I sometimes skip dessert altogether and go straight to beer?”
Are you starting to get it? Need more examples?
“Jess and I walked to the store yesterday.”
(“I walked to the store yesterday.”)
“Beth walked to the store with Jess and me.”
(“Beth walked to the store with me.”)
“After a series of mishaps, Jess and I discovered that ice cream cones are actually in the snacks aisle.”
(“After a series of mishaps, I discovered that ice cream cones are actually in the snacks aisle.”)
“The clerk helped Jess and me find the ice cream cones.”
(The clerk helped me fine the ice cream cones.”)
See, it’s really not that hard at all!
Now, who wants to go with Jess and me to get a beer?
Wow, and here I thought you were just a weekend rock star!
I, too, had a strict English schooling (Catholic nuns) and get irked when I see incorrect grammar.
Thanks for sharing this post!
Oh goodness. I use it incorrectly all the time. Bad journalism major, bad.
