As former colonies of England, after independence the United States of America retained the English language with its standard grammar rules.
Expat Americans along with English speaking foreign tourists are returning from traveling in the USA with horror stories about conversations that made them flinch. Americans are changing the language and many find it just as irritating as hearing the sound of nails on a chalkboard.
What are we talking about? The uneducated? The ones who use "ain't" -- not for effect -- but because they really don't know any better? Or maybe the ones who use the present tense when it should be the past tense as in "well, I reckon he come yonder and stayed for a piece."
No, indeed. The language that makes them wince and curls their toes is not coming from the under-educated but from the opposite end of the spectrum. They hear it on radio and TV from the educated middle class. The most common error is "between you and I," which, to be generous, might be OK since William Shakespeare used it in The Merchant of Venice. ("All debts are clear'd between you and I.")
But that's not where it ends. And it's a slippery slope.
"Thank you for inviting Alice and I to your 4th of July picnic," wrote a PhD scientist in an email. Were there no Alice, it would be "thank you for inviting I."
"People like you and I," said a friend over dinner. Leave out the other person and it's "people like I."
"Will you take a photo of my daughter and I, please?" a tourist asked at the Grand Canyon. Leave the daughter out and it becomes "will you take a photo of I?"
The subjective pronoun "I" is running wild! Educated Americans are using it after prepositions and it's wrong. Categorically incorrect. Obviously, a form of false hyper-correctness, designed to signify linguistic sophistication.
Instead of sounding sophisticated, however, it is bluntly pretentious.
This ungraceful elocution occurs when the speaker is talking about him/herself, hence the subjective pronoun "I." The other subjective pronouns -- she, he, they and we -- are left alone. You never hear "will you take a photo of Jack and she" or -- just as absurd -- "thank you for inviting Barbara and we to your home" or "John gave it to they."
Prepositions such as to, of, like, for, between and with need the objective pronoun: me, him, her, them, us. Every school age American knows this. Why do they abandon the rule once they get past 18? College professors cringe at the lack of writing skills displayed by their students and business leaders lament the poor communicative skills among their employees, but there are books to help. One in particular has a great title: Grammar Book for You and I (Oops, Me) by C. Edward Good. (Capital Ideas, 2002).
In defense of those who insist on using the subjective pronoun "I" after a preposition, there is the argument about the difference between rules and conventions. A grammar rule is immutable. A convention is not. A rule says, for example, that a verb must agree with its subject. We would never write "she say" instead of "she says." That's a rule.
Conventions refer to usage. It means that an error becomes acceptable and de facto correct through repeated usage. One example is the reply when someone knocks on the door. "Who's there?" The answer is: "It's me!" Nobody except pedantic idiots would say: "It is I!" Or as another example, most of us would say: "Look, it's her!" when seeing Angelina Jolie in person. Nobody would say: "Wow! It's she!"
It's probably too late to do anything about "between you and I." Along with split infinitives and the lovely word whom -- fast disappearing from the language as in "who do you love?" -- usage will sanction its authority and give it respectability.
But it's not too late to draw a line in the sand. We must be vigilant and protect our English pronouns from further abuse.
Just between you and me, enough is enough.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.