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Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

A Way with Words, a radio show and podcast about language and linguistics.

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I/me (again?!)
Guest
1
2013/09/22 - 5:07am

http://www.charlierose.com/watch/60268556

15':25" into this clip (the one titled 'The Federal Reserve'), Charlie Rose said 'you know better than I,'     and then quickly said again: '... better than me.'

He seems to  not as much correct himself  as  attempt to cover both sides of the fence.

It is remarkable that someone like  him,  grand master of the language if there is one,  conversing with  assorted more or less competent practitioners, still feels uncertain, and feels enough  urge  to even take a second to switch sides.    Remarkable, for nothing, but remarkable!

 

Ron Draney
721 Posts
(Offline)
2
2013/09/22 - 3:23pm

Worst part of this is that he was right the first time, and "corrected" himself with an error.

Quick refresher on "I/me" in comparisons:

She likes John better than I. - means that I don't care much for John, but she has a higher opinion of him.
She likes John better than me. - means that if she had to choose between John and me, I'm getting left out in the cold.

Guest
3
2013/09/22 - 9:02pm

In other words:

She likes John better than I (do).
She likes John better than (she likes) me.

 

Edit:

Actually, I suppose it's  She likes John better than I  (like John).

but:

You know better than I (know).

You know (what?) better than (you know) me (?).

I can't make sense of it using me.

 

Guest
4
2013/09/23 - 7:45am

So, Charlie seemed to have momentarily decided that proper grammar was not a good thing in real life. He wanted to show sympathy with opposing sides. But he really should not cater that way, not with grammar.

Guest
5
2013/09/23 - 11:14pm

I know nothing about Charlie, but it sounds as if he would have been better off making a choice, one way or the other, and sticking with it.  

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