I have listened to two podcasts that discuss the misuse if "I" and "me," but no mention of another misuse that I hear a lot. I hear people substitute "yourself" for "you," "myself" for "I," etc. I hear highly educated people make this mistake, and even when reading from prepared speeches..
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Frankly, I didn't know the rule until I read it in Ann Landers or Dear Abby years ago. As she pointed out the "-self" version should only be used when the "self-less" version is used earlier in the same sentence. Some time this ought to be discussed on a show.
Again, I think it goes back to teachers instilling fear of the word "me." Â I agree with you; educated people say it all the time. Â I think they feel it is more "elegant" than me or you, but it sounds goofy to me.
Generally true, but there are some constructs where myself and yourself are the right choice. Rather than spell out the "rules," check out this website:
http://www.tolearnenglish.com/exercises/exercise-english-2/exercise-english-28080.php
and you'll see the pattern.
There is bad grammar in the answer list:
7-I am tall, but John is taller than me
If you think that's not bad, why?
Good answer:
I am tall, but John is taller.
This is not good, but the grammar is correct:
I am tall, but John is taller than I.
The correct answer to #7 is "me" because each clause of the sentence has to stand on its own. The original compound sentence breaks down to:
1. I am tall. (can't argue with that)
2. John is taller than me. (also fine)
The difference is that "me" is used an indirect object, whereas "I" is used as a direct object.
Your suggested rewriting as "I am tall, but John is taller." also works just fine. There again, "I" is a direct object.