I've worked in several departments of a local authority and it's getting more and more common for prople to use in letters and now in speech the words'yourself' and 'myself' when they should be using 'you' and 'me' (e.g. I have had a letter from yourself...please address your reply to myself)
Where's it come from? is it becoming universal? Will it become a normal part of english usage? Is it only me whose teeth set on edge when I hear it? Any comments?
2007-11-21 05:50:29 · 17 answers · asked by florayg 5 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
really now, having seen what Answer Queen has written, maybe there are worse things in heaven and earth...
2007-11-21 06:00:27 · update #1
I think it is overcompensation. People want to be viewed as educated and they overcompensate, using words incorrectly just because they sound like they might be right.
A similar problem is the usage of the word "I". It is Not always proper to say "you and I" yet people do it because they think it sounds educated.
"You and I gave her a gift" is correct since the correct sentence without the word "you" is "I gave her a gift" .
But, "The gift was given to you and I" is wrong. It should be "The gift was given to you and me" since the correct sentence without the word "you" is "The gift was given to me."
The problem you cited and the "me/I" problem are both VERY frustrating. But I am afraid that as long as there are uneducated people who want to come off as educated, there will always be such annoying grammatical errors.
2007-11-21 06:06:05 · answer #1 · answered by FourArrows 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Think I asked this question a while back. It bugs me too. I usually get it from people who are selling me things, for some reason. They try and sound formal and just sound strange instead.
Glad the 'you and me/you and I' thing came up - I'm driven to screaming irritation by people who use 'I' because they're trying to sound correct and formal, when it's just grammatically wrong. It's like hearing nails scraped down a blackboard. I can't help it.
(For anyone who actually wants to know, just use what you'd normally use if it were just the I/me bit. For example, you wouldn't say "He thanked I for doing a good job", so don't say "He thanked John and I for doing a good job" - it should be "He thanked John and me".)
2007-11-22 00:31:33 · answer #2 · answered by booklady 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The English language is in bad shape----So many people can't write or speak proper English; The questions/answers on this forum is a perfect example...people that can't spell have a million reasons as to why they can't express themselves properly. But the bottom line is this---You should be able to read, write, and speak at least one language fluently, and for most Americans, that would be English.
Because this site is available world wide, the bad spelling and grammar is not only embarrassing---it makes Americans look stupid.........
2007-11-21 06:02:17 · answer #3 · answered by GUARD DOG 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I do not use the word very much. Only if it makes sense. I guess it depends on where you are from and how you're used to talking. The word myself makes sense such as "I fixed the sink by myself" in other words without anyone else. Yourself makes sense in the expression "Do it yourself" or "Did you make that yourself?" Those are the instances where those words work.
2007-11-21 06:10:02 · answer #4 · answered by countrygirl 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is because people don't know when to use I or me, he and him etc so they say myself or himself as a fudge. This however does not apply to you/yourself ( as you is both nominative and accusative) but I believe it is an offspring of the parent. We even used to get commentators like Sir Peter O'Sullevan saying things like There is only one fence between he (ugh!) and victory. He should have known better.
2007-11-21 21:19:38 · answer #5 · answered by Eddie D 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't get me started!!!
It is hard to stop me.
Ignorant people trying to sound educated is far worse than ignorant people just being ignorant.
(Please understand I am not using "ignorant" in a defaming way. I am using as it was intended to be used.)
*remove hands from keyboard... you can do it... come on now...
:)~
2007-11-21 06:28:36 · answer #6 · answered by Trina™ 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's like that awful response to the greeting, "How are you?" "I'm GOOD thanks". What's wrong with the more conventional reply FINE, or Very well thank you? I also hate train station (railway station, please), and when customers in shops say: Can I GET (should be HAVE) a packet of cigarettes please?
I also hate it when people say I'll have a burger and fries to go. No you won't - you'll have a burger and chips to take away; unless you're American, of course!
2007-11-21 05:59:13 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
It sounds pleasant to me. In Ireland they 'and hows yourself today.' It has a strange fascinating lilt - friendly
2007-11-21 20:37:02 · answer #8 · answered by Sally Anne 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It drives me nuts too.
Not as much as when people say Pacific instead of specific though.
2007-11-21 07:40:12 · answer #9 · answered by Blonde hootie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It just seems like someone is trying to sound more formal...
Just an FYI it's improper to say you and me....It should be You and I....
But the use of Yourself....seems uptight & pretentious!
Tell them to loosen up!
2007-11-21 06:02:09 · answer #10 · answered by Mommacat 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋