Q&A for How to Choose Between "I" and "Me" Correctly

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Is this the correct use? "If you have any questions for Mr. Smith and I, please let us know. The office staff and me enjoyed the letters you sent us."

Donagan

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"...Mr. Smith and me," and "...staff and I..."

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Question

How would I determine when to use either "I" or "me"?

Community Answer

"I" is used as the subject of a sentence, and "me" is used as the object of a verb. If you are doing something, you would use "I." For example: I joined a soccer team. Stephanie and I played Mortal Kombat. Chris had Jane and me over for dinner (where "me" is one of the objects of "had."

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Is it: You are taller than me or I?

Community Answer

"You are taller than me, her, him" sounds better to most English speakers and is seen and heard more often than than "I" in this situation. In fact, they're actually both correct usage in modern times. English as a language is ever changing, so it's fine to to use the phrase "something than me" but if you do use I, it can help to say "You are taller than I am" and you'll have readers and listeners forgetting their argument.

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I say that it should be "Come see Dave and me in concert." The ad says, "Please come see Dave and I in concert." Who is correct?

Community Answer

You are correct. This is a common case of overcorrection, where people think something sounds more correct but it actually isn't. Many people really have the idea that "I" is more proper than "me" drilled into them in school (due to kids frequently saying things like "Me and David went to the movies" and teachers having to keep correcting, "David and I!"), and then carry that over to situations where it actually isn't.

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When asked who can answer a question, is the answer "I" or "me?"

Community Answer

"I" (short for "I can") is 'technically' correct. However, that's very unusual and awkward to say. If you have one of those teachers who obsesses over these things and want you to say "I", just follow your teacher's instructions in class. Otherwise, you're best off just saying "me" like everybody else.

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Which is correct: "John and I want to express our sincere thanks" or "John and me want to express our sincere thanks."

Community Answer

The correct option is the first one. The trick is to read the sentence without the other subject to see if it makes sense. You would say "I want to express my sincere thanks" not "Me want to express my sincere thanks".

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Question

Do I say congratulations from "Carol and I" or "Carol and me"?

Community Answer

Think about how you would write the sentence if there was no 'Carol' in it, just you, and act accordingly. You would never say "from I," only "from me." So "Congratulations from Carol and me" is correct. A lot of people do write or say "I" in cases like this because it 'sounds' more correct or more formal somehow, but it isn't correct.

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Do I say: "If it were I" or "If it was I"?

Community Answer

Use "If it were I". You use the subjunctive when creating a hypothetical situation. For example: If I were you, I would not trust his grammar.

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The pineapple was shared between "Jane and me" or "Jane and I"?

Community Answer

An objective pronoun is always used after a preposition. In this case, the preposition "between" is being used, so "between Jane and me" is correct.

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"Thank you for spending the day with Jack and I." Is this correct?

Community Answer

"Jack and me" or "me and Jack" is correct (the second one is a little more natural). When there is more than one person in the sentence, take the other person out of the sentence and see what you would write if it was just you. You would say "Thank you for spending the day with me," not "Thank you for spending the day with I."

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"If you can't make a meeting, call Beth or me," is that correct?

Donagan

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Yes. Choose as if "Beth or" were not there.

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Question

He bought me a pair of shoes - isn't that dative, not accusative? Surely it is the equivalent of: he bought a pair of shoes for me. Shoes is the accusative noun.

Donagan

Top Answerer

"Me" is correct. It's the indirect object of "bought."

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Kate would you have time for a meeting with Jason and I/me?

Community Answer

Jason and me, or Jason and myself.

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Is "someone other than me" correct?

Community Answer

Yes, that is correct usage of "me."

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Which is correct? Sharon and me at Christmas or Sharon and I at Christmas?

Donagan

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Depends on the sentence. If it's a picture caption, it would be "I."

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Question

How do I know whether to say "for you and I" or "for you and me"?

Donagan

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Pretend the "you and" is not there: "for me."

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Question

Which of the following is correct: "Would you like to play with me and Tina?" or "Would you like to play with Tina and me?"

Donagan

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A self-reference always comes second (or last): "...with Tina and me."

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Is it "I prepared some materials to support us as you get to know the work of my team and I", or "my team and me"?

Donagan

Top Answerer

"Me". View the sentence if you were to remove "my team and." You wouldn't say "of I."

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Question

When I am labeling a picture and not using a complete sentence, would I label in "my friend and me" or "my friend and I"?

Community Answer

"My friend and I" is more technically correct, but "my friend and me" is a common casual usage as well, and might be perceived as more natural by some. You probably would label a picture of just yourself as "Me" rather than "I". Some would argue the latter is more correct, but most would find it very awkward and unnatural.

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Which is correct? "So that me and the other students," or "So that I and the other students"?

Community Answer

The first one is correct, but "So that the other students and I" is best.

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Question

The committee has three members: Mary, John and me (or I?).

Community Answer

It's up to you. "I" is more technically correct, but sounds unnatural or pretentious to many people. It's very common and acceptable to most to use "me" in such a case.

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Question

"How does it feel to be 18 months older than I?" or "How does it feel to be 18 months older than me?"

Sherringford

Community Answer

"How does it it feel to be 18 months older than me?" is correct.

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Is "From me and Elizabeth" correct?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Yes. (Short for "From me and from Elizabeth.")

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Would you say "it could be you or I" or "It could be you or me"?

Community Answer

I believe that "It could be you or I" is technically correct, but very archaic and rarely used today, so it's better to say "It could be you or me."

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Those present are Tom, mike and me?

Donagan

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I.

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Would I say, "If there are questions, please let Quinn or me know" or "...please let me or Quinn know"?

Donagan

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It is usually proper to refer to yourself last: "Let Quinn or me know," or "Quinn and I would like to know."

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'Mark and I' or 'Me and Mark' - are they both correct when I start a sentence?

Community Answer

Only "Mark and I" is correct at the beginning of a sentence.

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Turning the sentence around to see which usage sounds correct in example 4, "Who is at the door?" / "I am." vs. "Me is." "It's I" would appear to be correct. Perhaps "It's me" is idiomatic?

Donagan

Top Answerer

"It's I" is grammatically correct. "It's me" is a common usage. "I am" is a good alternative.

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Is "You, he and Bert are going to the store" correct?

Donagan

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Yes.

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Is it correct to say "Thank you for hosting John and me"?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Yes. The way to tell is to eliminate the words "John and" and read or say what's left to see how it sounds: "hosting me" vs. "hosting I."

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