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Pedants' corner

Me and my language: I just don't understand it!

(34 Posts)
newgran2019 Mon 03-Feb-20 12:21:07

Sorry if this has been commented on before, but I just opened today's messages and found one that begins 'Me and my husband...': a simple sentence with a subject, verb and object. Many people from all walks of life - even the royals - are now starting sentences with 'Me and X' when it should be 'X and I', and not just in everyday speech. Why do people all of a sudden think this is in any way correct? We would never say, 'Me is just going out' - unless we were about two. I just don't understand it. I know language evolves, but this is plain wrong in every language I have ever learned.

carolmary Tue 04-Feb-20 12:28:36

When my daughters used to say "me and X are going to ... ."
I used automatically to correct them saying, " X and I etc", they would reply "No Mum, you aren't going, I am!" I soon got the point and stopped being so pernickety!
They had no problems at school,they knew very well that what you say at home is different from what you write in an English essay!

Chestnut Tue 04-Feb-20 12:10:09

The Queen is definitely responsible for everyone's reluctance to use 'My husband and I' ? but I can't see any reason for not getting it right otherwise, i.e. John and I, Mary and I etc. as that doesn't sound queenly.

Blinko Tue 04-Feb-20 11:15:43

I would say 'My OH and I...' no problem. Probably not 'Me and my OH' though.

JackyB Tue 04-Feb-20 10:38:56

most husbands have a name !!!

Love it!!

Tangerine Mon 03-Feb-20 21:47:43

You are correct grammatically newgran2019 and I certainly would use the correct form in writing.

I wouldn't say "my husband and I" as it sounds old-fashioned but I'd use "First name and I".

SueDonim Mon 03-Feb-20 19:32:09

Educated in England, where I was also taught to say ‘X and I.’ I’ve heard Prince Harry say ‘Myself and Meghan,’ which is really jarring to my ears.

I agree that ‘My husband and I,’ does sound overly regal but most husbands have a name, I imagine, grin so I’d use that instead.

sodapop Mon 03-Feb-20 19:20:57

So do I mcem smile

Marydoll Mon 03-Feb-20 19:13:06

Another Scot here, who would always say, DH and I. It's how we were taught grammar at school.

When I was teaching, anyone who wrote or said: Me and Jimmy, was told the correct way to say or write it.
I would even say that in casual conversation and I'm certainly not posh. grin

MissAdventure Mon 03-Feb-20 18:47:25

I don't know what the correct way to say it is, and I don't understand the explanations.

mcem Mon 03-Feb-20 18:44:41

This subject was discussed very thoroughly on GN a few years ago and I ventured to say that I'd always say "X and I met up" and never "me and X met up". (Admittedly no 'queenly' implication).
I was roundly criticised by one poster who declared I could not be telling the truth because no-one would say that in a casual phone conversation!!
Well I do!

Lucca Mon 03-Feb-20 17:42:20

At least it wasn’t “me and my hubby”. Think I’d prefer ungrammatical to twee
?

MaizieD Mon 03-Feb-20 17:42:20

Well, one could, in Gransnet speak, write 'OH and I'. That doesn't sound at all queenly grin

Callistemon Mon 03-Feb-20 17:32:45

The missus
Or her indoors.

I prefer She who must be obeyed, vq
grin

sodapop Mon 03-Feb-20 16:05:26

I really dislike that as well vampirequeen Grrrr

vampirequeen Mon 03-Feb-20 15:29:01

Around here because a man would say, "Me and the wife" or "The wife and me." Not only grammatically incorrect but also turning the wife into property grin

notanan2 Mon 03-Feb-20 14:51:00

Because "my husband and I" just sounds comical and rediculous nowadays. Its okay if youre the queen. If youre not it just sounds funny.

Callistemon Mon 03-Feb-20 14:47:07

As DH would say:
"My wife and I were deeply moved by Andrews' Liver Salts".
(substitute husband as appropriate)

I think that "Me and my husband" is informal and perhaps used in some dialects more than others.
Or, as I have heard: "Me and me husband".

You just remove the other subject of the sentence to find out if it is correct or not. The positioning of the verb is normally the indicator as to which or who is the subject and which or who is the object:

John and I gave a present to Joe
Joe gave a present to John and me

Kalu Mon 03-Feb-20 14:36:58

Also educated in Scotland. Just imagining the rage brought down on me by our English mistress should I have said ie; ‘me and Jenny are going to a party’. I would have instinctively, said Jenny and I.

However, I would think it bad manners to correct others.

Yennifer Mon 03-Feb-20 14:19:33

Most people use formal and informal speech, using informal doesn't mean we don't know formal. Schools literally teach the difference between the two. I'm sure it's fine x

Rufus2 Mon 03-Feb-20 14:09:49

We would never say, 'Me is just going out
That conversation in our house would condense to,

Son: "Going out"
Me: "where to?
Son: "Dunno"
hmm

Farmor15 Mon 03-Feb-20 14:05:33

We used to correct our children for this, but more because they were putting themselves first, rather than the other person. It does sound a bit queenly to say "My husband and I..", but not if talking about another 3rd party - "John and I went...". You would be unlikely to say "I and John went.."

MamaCaz Mon 03-Feb-20 13:51:35

Me too, Urmstongran (or should that be 'I too'?) grin

Urmstongran Mon 03-Feb-20 13:47:43

In the past I have gone to post ‘my husband and I ...’ and I changed my mind as it sounded queenly!

MamaCaz Mon 03-Feb-20 13:28:55

newgran2019
I know language evolves, but this is plain wrong in every language I have ever learned.

The French would say 'Mon mari et moi ...', not 'mon mari et je'. wink

Charleygirl5 Mon 03-Feb-20 13:24:49

anno we had the best education in my opinion.