Use of me, myself and I often becomes confusing
Many years ago, when I was a grad student, I was working in Northwestern University’s Medill News Service in Washington. My phone rang, and the person on the other end asked to speak to Bernadette. I said, “That’s me.”
The voice said, “This is Larry, from The Pilot.”
I had recently interviewed for a copy-editing job with The Virginian-Pilot, so I was hoping for a call. As soon as I realized that the newspaper’s recruiter was phoning, I panicked. I had used the wrong pronoun. I shakily tried to recover. “Oh! Uh, this is I,” I said quickly.
Somehow I got the job anyway. I also could have said, “This is she,” which is correct and sounds a little less stuffy than, “This is I.”
Many people have told me how irritated they are when others use “I” and “me” incorrectly.
Most people know that when you talk about yourself doing something, you start the sentence with “I.”
Right: I finally have decided where I will go on vacation.
But some people get confused when they need to add another person to the sentence.
Wrong: Me and Nigel will never understand calculus.
Right: Nigel and I will never understand calculus.
If you can’t figure out whether to use I or me, just take Nigel out of the picture for a second.
But sometimes people are afraid of using the word “me.”
Wrong: Just between you and I, the pie is a lot better than the cake.
Right: Just between you and me, the pie is a lot better than the cake.
“Myself” is sometimes used instead of “me,” also.
Wrong: If you would like to be a coffee club member, notify Roger or myself.
Right: If you would like to be a coffee club member, notify Roger or me.
Due to, because of These two are not interchangeable. “Due to” can be used when you mean to say “caused by.”
Wrong: The game was canceled due to rain.
Right: The game was canceled because of rain.
Right, but longer than it needs to be: The game’s cancellation was due to rain.
“Due to” also can be used in place of “supposed to.”
Right: The plane was due to arrive at noon, but it’s 4 p.m. now.
Whether, if “If” is definitely shorter, and I love the shorter words. But “if” can’t always be used in place of “whether.” When the words “or not” are implied, “if” should not be used.
Right: If you want to go to the movies with us, just say so.
Wrong: You need to decide by noon if you want to go to the movies with us.
Right: You need to decide by noon whether you want to go to the movies with us.
Sources: The Associated Press Stylebook, Grammar Girl, M-W.com, Woe Is I.