Students tend to write how they speak. Sometimes this habit is fine, but other times it can lead to problems such as the misuse of I and me.
'I' will always be the subject of a sentence or clause, whereas 'me' will be the object. 'Me' should follow any preposition (of, in, on, etc.) and function as both the indirect and direct object in a sentence.
Following these rules will ensure professionalism when speaking to others and will make a good impression.
Incorrect: The professor returned the tests to John and I.
Correct: The professor returned the tests to John and me.
Explanation: You remove the second party from the sentences where you feel tempted to use 'myself' as an object or feel hesitant about 'me'.
Incorrect: When you get done with that lab report, can you send it to Bill and I?
Correct: When you get done with that lab report, can you send it to Bill and me?
Explanation: If you take Bill out of the sentence, you will notice how the sentence changes. As you read it aloud, you can see the correct answer in the next example.
Incorrect: When you get done with that lab report, can you send it to I?
Correct: When you get done with that lab report, can you send it to me?
Explanation: The first sentence doesn't sound right because 'I' is the object in the sentence. 'I' should never be used as the object.
Incorrect: Me will be with you in a minute.
Correct: I will be with you in a minute.
Explanation: 'I' is used as a subject of a sentence or clause, whereas 'me' is used as the object of a verb
Sacha Bonilla-Mena, Framingham State U, Class of 2022
Julia Tetreault, Framingham State U, Class of 2022
Amanda Gormley, Framingham State U, Class of 2022
Jared Gordon-Anderson, Framingham State U, Class of 2021
"Confusing Grammar Mistake In English: Using I or Me." YouTube, Uploaded by Elearnin, 4 Feb. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBYKwHWUDeY.
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Golden, Michelle. “How to choose between “i” and “me” correctly.” WikiHow, www.wikihow.com/Choose-Between-%22I%22-and-%22Me%22-Correctly.
"Meme Generator." Laundry Viking Meme Generator- Imgflip, Imgflip LLC, 2019, www.imgflip.com/memegenerator.
Sterbenz, Christina. “15 Annoying Grammatical Mistakes That People Always Make.” Business Insider, 20 February 2014, www.businessinsider.com/annoying-grammatical-mistakes-2014-2.
WebbizAdmin2. "Nurse3". Primary Care Recruitment, 5 February 2016, www.primarycarerecruitment.ie/vacancy/nursing-home-vacancies-in-ireland-county-tipperary/nurse3-3/.
Zantal-Wiener, Amanda. “30 of the Most Common Grammatical Errors We All Need to Stop Making.” HubSpot, 08 August 2018, www.blog.hubspot.com/marketing/common-grammar-mistakes-list.
