The Proper Use of "I" and "Me"

Poor English grammar bothers me. Yeah, sure, if you know me well, you know a lot of things bother me. Well, screw you... ok, just kidding. Anyway, this one seemed like such a simple fix, yet such a common error. So I thought I should write about it.

When we were in elementary school, our teachers thought it important to correct the common mistake of using the term "me" when "I" should be used in specific reference to a person or persons and the speaker. Thus, most of us correctly say things like, "John and I are going to watch football." This was such a cultural phenomena amongst elementary-school-English-teachers, that the "learned" of our day are hard pressed to use the word "me" when it is required in these situations, as if it has become a 4 letter word itself ('meee'). Alas, the error is just as egregious.

So, I intend to give a quick rundown on the proper usage of these words. The rules are quite simple. Most of you who read this are smart already, so it's probably nothing new. You can just use the discussion thread to complain about other English errors. If you didn't know, I hope this makes it clear (you can be smart and not know, too - they obviously didn't teach it very well in elementary English - I just mean that those who read this blog have a higher chance of already knowing these rules).

Essentially, to know if you are to use "I" or "me", ask yourself what sounds right if not using the other person or persons in the sentence. For example, if the sentence at hand is:

"My wife and I live in Florida."

I would take out the reference to my wife, and say:

"I live in Florida."

Well, that is very obviously the proper usage. Thus, the first sentence is correct. Let's look at another example:

"Jordan gave my wife and I a nice wedding gift."

Removing the reference to my wife again, this becomes:

"Jordan gave I a nice wedding gift."

That is obviously incorrect. Thus, the sentence should have been:

"Jordan gave my wife and me a nice wedding gift."

For those looking for a more technical distinction between the two usages, what we are looking for is whether the phrase is the subject or the object of the verb. In the first example, for instance, "My wife and I" is the subject. Thus, the usage of "I" is correct. In the second example, the verb is "gave" and the object of that verb (or, what the verb acts upon) is "my wife and me". In this case, "me" is correct.

Anna Nicole Smith

Would you rather:

a) Watch more coverage of Anna Nicole Smith developments
b) Watch more coverage of Brittney Spears
c) Eat an ounce of poop

South Park Conspiracy Episode

One of the best episodes I've seen in awhile: Download here

Why Christian Bookstores Bother Me

1. High prices. Christ paid a high price for your salvation, so you must pay a high price for this bible.

2. Customer service. I'm sure it changes from store to store, but why don't Christian bookstores stand out as the best for customer service? I think this is a poor reflection of the gospel. My wife dropped off my bible to get it rebound before Christmas. I just got it back and it was done poorly. However, the bookstore we've been working with doesn't seem to want to help. They debate me, in fact, telling me I should have had different assumptions. Anyway, this is one example, but customer service at Christian bookstores doesn't stand out to me.

3. They don't run like a business. Excellence in everything is a godly virtue (Col. 3:23). This goes in line with the first two complaints, but what does it say when, from an objective standpoint, I'd rather purchase my new book on theology from Barnes & Noble?

4. Compassion for the lost and/or for those in need. This is reflected in the prices, as well as the products that are sold. It's not necessarily wrong to sell $10 rubber bracelets, but why does the Salvation Army stand outside Walmart instead (I don't think it's just the traffic flow)? Perhaps this is more of an issue with the broader Christian subculture.

5. Exclusivity. Yeah, it's a Christian bookstore, I understand. But do they have to exclude other good books/media? Perhaps more of my concern is with the separation of Christians from the rest of the world (I Cor. 5:9-10, Luke 15), which again is a Christian subculture issue. Is it unchristian that I sometimes worship God with secular music? Hell no.

6. Superfluousness. Apparently, there is a need to wear 40 different God-fearing bracelets, while carrying my coffee and water in containers that remind me that God exists, and my bible in a multi-colored case that screams, "I'M A CHRISTIAN! TAKE THAT EVIL HEATHEN! I BELIEVE IN CREATION TOO!" And if you get to know me, you'll see that I mark all my bible verses with bookmarks with other bible verses on them, have paintings at home costing hundreds of dollars that also have bible verses on them, and drive home in my great-commission-car that shares the gospel with everyone I cut off.

7. Corniness. This is perhaps the worst offense in my book. Apparently, Christian culture is defined by fake plants, cliché phrases, cheesy music, and bumper stickers that let everyone know how "cool" it is to follow Christ.

Well, there are my 7 reasons - the biblical number for completion, in fact. Let me know what you think.