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http://www.petitiononline.com/obamapro/petition.html
Dear Mr. President,
We the undersigned beseech you to serve as a good example to English-speaking people around the world by demonstrating the proper use of personal pronouns.
You have a well-deserved reputation as a fine speaker and a man with true literary gifts. But many of us who have listened to you have been dismayed to hear you say things like "for Michelle and I", or "with my family and I". We are sure that you are aware that the object form of the first person pronoun is "me", not "I".
Perhaps this is simply a bad habit. Breaking this bad habit should be easier to do than to stop smoking, and will bring pleasure to many Americans, at no cost to the federal budget.
We thank you for your efforts to correct this mistake which pains so many people who in other respects admire you greatly.
Sincerely,
I have a theory about Obama: So many people have commented on his eloquence that he now tries too hard to sound eloquent. Saying "I" instead of "me" sounds more eloquent and lofty, even if it is incorrect. Any day now I expect him to start sounding like the King James version of the Bible, using thee and thou. 🙂
For centuries,
it was perfectly acceptable to use either “I†or “me†as the object of a verb or preposition,
especially after “and.â€Literature is full of examples.
Here's Shakespeare, in “The Merchant of Veniceâ€:“All debts are cleared between you and I.â€
And
here's Lord Byron, complaining to his half-sister about the English town of Southwell,“which, between you and I, I wish was swallowed up by an earthquake, provided my eloquent mother was not in it.â€
Perhaps, it's because they were scolded as children for saying things like “Me want candy†instead of “I want candy,†so they began to think “I†was somehow more socially acceptable.
I don't see an example using I as the object.
Perhaps it's because they were scolded as children for saying things like “Me want candy†instead of “I want candy,†so they began to think “I†was somehow more socially acceptable.
Perhaps, the child views itself as an object which the parent gives the candy to. "give me candy"
I notice that the hosts of radio sports-talk shows almost always use the pronouns "he and I" where "him and me" would be correct, as in "A-Rod talked to he and I about his steroid problem." Of course, they always get it right when only one member of the duo is involved, as in "A-Rod talked to me about . . . ." I'm sure TV hosts are guilty, too, but I don't watch much sports talk. I'm disgusted to hear myself committing the same error in casual conversation, despite being offended when others do it. I can't trace this slipup to anything in my education or home environment. Maybe I've listened to too much sports-talk radio.
I say "you and I" as well. Sometimes proper English is not always the best choice, as it does not flow. If Shakespear could be creative with the English language, why can't I?
And by the way, if you are going to be considered a "great orator", shouldn't you be able to give a speech without a teleprompter? Perhaps we could be more accurate with language and say "good reader".
PDXPaul,
Between you and I, I don't consider it a mistake. I do, however, consider it a mistake (of a different sort) to constantly correct the way other folks talk. Since it is so common for folks to say it, it might just be that we have to accept it as a normal variation. Which me and you should do.
You're articulating very well a fundamental tension within the world of grammar. Grant and I are both believers in McKean's Law, which states that "Any correction of the speech or writing of others will contain at least one grammatical, spelling, or typographical error." At least, that's been my experience.
But at this point, at least, I think it's worth knowing what the standard rules are, so you can use them if you need to, and understand when you're breaking them on purpose.
>I say “you and I†as well. Sometimes proper English is not always the best choice, as it does not flow. If Shakespear could be creative with the English language, why can't I?<<
Well, certainly you can, but if you're being creative with the language in a context where it's unintentionally jarring or even repellent to your audience, you may be doing yourself more harm than good. I'm all for creativity with the language, cleverly made-up words, and all that. But if it undermines my point or the purpose of what I'm trying to communicate, I don't see what good it does me.
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Grant Barrett
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