Are YOU Making This Common Grammar Error?

In our country today, we now have the highest percentage of college graduates in the country’s history. If so many people are college educated, why do they regularly make grammar errors, particularly ones that seem obvious?

Let’s start with the error I’m referencing. How regularly do you hear “him and I” or “her and I”? I’m neither an English major nor a grammarian, but I’ve got this one down pat, and I know the above to be incorrect. Here’s how to correctly go about saying this sentiment:

• “She and I” and “he and I” are subject pronouns and the subjects of a sentence; while…
• “Him, her, and me” are object pronouns and the objects of a sentence.
• Typically subject pronouns are at the beginning of a sentence, and object pronouns are at the end.
• There’s an easy trick to figuring out how to include the people references as objects vs. subjects:

Just take the other person out of the sentence for a second. Would you say, “Please take a picture of I”? Or “Just ask I”? No, of course, you wouldn’t; you would naturally say “me” instead. So if you would naturally say “me,” then you should use “me” in conjunction with the other person’s name.

Are people being taught proper grammar — most likely? So why am I hearing this error so often? It seems to be slang and something that is commonly misspoken, often enough to go undetected. It’s a bit like guys calling each other “bro” who are not brothers. What is going on? Again, it’s slang and a way to connect.

As someone committed to spreading happiness (and now good grammar), we may need to set aside our devices more often since incorrect grammar can easily slip in unnoticed. Let’s make time to double-check our vocabulary and grammar skills so that we can be ourselves and build honest relationships!

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