Myself and yourself instead of me and you

[WanderingNotLost]

This is something that just pisses me off to no end.

People saying myself and yourself instead of me and you.

Example: We need someone do speak on Tuesday, Steve has suggested yourself.

We have previously sold photocopiers to yourself.

No no no no no!!

Why do people do this? Is it just ignorance? I've found sales people are particularly guilty of this heinous crime. It just grates on me, I always want to correct them. AIBU?

See also: the misplaced apostrophe.

YANBU. There are plenty of instances when "myself" and "yourself" are correct (as listed by Ego and others up thread). It's the way that my/yourself has been hijacked by the corporate bollocks brigade that really pisses myself off.

Referring to the first and second person only as my/yourself seems to be short-hand for "look how clever and sophisticated my written/oral English is, you'll never hear me use such pleb-like single syllable words as "me" and "you". I am a superior communicator and not at all slightly clueless and insecure."

This happens all the time at my workplace and it drives me mad. Together with random capitalisation of nouns, apostrophes everywhere and inconsistent punctuation. The the cheeky fuckers even "correct" documents that don't comply with this new doctrine.

I know I'm a pedant. I need to relax; language evolves.

In spoken English, you can generally tell whether someone is using their natural dialect, or corporate newspeak. Would someone who used my/yourself as part of their dialect, also use these forms in writing, or is it just when spoken?

May I add 'your good self' and 'my good self' please?

As in 'I recently sent a letter to your good self' or

'It was sent to my good self'

This too drives me crazy.

You're right Helles.

Although I think, in Ireland, if you started a letter with 'on behalf of myself and all my staff' most people wouldn't notice anything amiss.

But in general, although we use it in conversation, we wouldn't use 'myself' in written correspondence unless it was grammatically correct, or a very informal letter.

Another hate: thinks like "Her and me went to the shops". Would you seriously say "Her went to the shops"? Why would you think it's any different just because you've added someone else into the mix?

Oh, ffs, "things like", not "thinks like".

Well you wouldn't say 'me went to the shops' either. I don't really have an issue with people speaking like that (unless it's put on, as in the OP's example). Writing it is a different matter.

Nashville, "my/your good self" can definitely be added. They're even worse!

Queen, that's interesting. For me, if it's a natural way of speaking/writing for the author, then it doesn't bother me. The context is important. I usually bite my tongue when I see incorrect use of my/yourself - I'm not the language police, the writer could be using their dialect and I may be incorrect. It's when otherwise very clever and literate people use my/yourself incorrectly because they think it sounds better or more "professional" that I get annoyed by it.

Nashville, my/your good self is even worse! They can definitely be added. To me, it's a similar phrase to "with all due respect, ..." meaning with no respect at all. It's like a slight insult disguised as a compliment.

That's interesting Queen. Context is important. I don't get bothered by use of my/yourself when it's obviously the dialect of the speakers and commonly understood/accepted usage. In my own dialect (SE England, RP) my/yourself has a specific correct use so it stands out.

What annoys me is when very clever, very literate people without the dialect misuse my/yourself in formal documents/business meetings etc in the belief it sounds better or more "professional". I try to bite my tongue - I'm not the language police - but it's endemic!

Agree OP, it may be normalised in some dialects but it's heinous and ubiquitous in customer service/sales speak.
"Please ask for myself"- when I see or hear this sort of thing I want to scream -- "only YOU can ask for YOURself, that's the point of the bloody "self" bit you moron! "

The most annoying thing is that I can almost feel some of them thinking "How rude/poor thing can't speak properly" when I use "I" and "me" correctly.

But obviously I just bite my tongue.

So many candidates on the apprentice misuse myself/yourself!

I really hate it too

It's just a class thing - one of the many ways we use to distinguish class in the UK. If you want certain jobs you don't speak like that. If you couldn't care less then speak how you like.

Nope, I still think what peeves the OP and me is not dialect usage or related to class.

I think the most accurate way its use has been decribed on thread is as this kind of extra polite and professional customer service speak. Though it is neither.

Apparently, people are told to say it. My daughter got into trouble in her place of work for saying 'you' and 'me' on the phone rather than 'yourself' and 'myself'.

I don't suppose you can tell us which company? That is shameful.

I work for social services and the problem is endemic.

Not a day goes past when I don't receive an email referring to 'myself/yourself'. It makes me want to cry.

Hate it too! It reminds me of Police constable talk: " I was proceeding in a northerly direction when said vehicle collided with myself blah blah blah"

The suspect fled from the locus on foot - he ran away.

Upon arrival at the police station the suspect fell down the stairs and sustained multiple injuries to his person, including brusing to the ribs - the suspect is black

I can't stand it either. I notice it's used a lot on 'The Apprentice'.

Certainly in law it is only used by uneducated people and usually not by those who pass the "posh test". It is just the kind of thing I suspect some students may not realise is used against them in being assessed for jobs and yet is part of the subtle tests we use to work out who will go down well with a client. It is very important that people know this. Of course it depends on your job.

Writing clear English using as few words as possible is usually the best policy.

I despise this! I never knew anyone else felt the same way.

I share you pain, OP, and advise you to on no account read this: www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/science-technology/grammar-pedants-fewer-interesting-200809031225

It's just a class thing - one of the many ways we use to distinguish class in the UK

Actually it isn't. My husband has a book in which it is reported that King George V used it!

Certainly in law it is only used by uneducated people

And I know lawyers who use it too - people who have trained with top London law firms.

It is still a useful tool. It is used as a distinguisher of people and yes lots of people who do not speak too well have risen up in top law firms - well done to them but that does not mean people should go out gently into the night not knowing what others think when they speak like that.

It's almost as annoying as people saying "me and Jimmy" instead of "Jimmy and I"!

I don't know why that annoys me so much!

Although Jimmy and I went with him and He came with me and Jimmy are both correct, aren't they?