'myself and my family....'

[PrettyLittleBrownEyedMe]

Prepared to be flamed here; I know it's not seen as the done thing to care about SPaG. That's why I've started a new thread rather than pick someone up in another conversation.

However, I would really love to know why this 'myself and my family...' construction is everywhere at the moment. It absolutely sets my teeth on edge, and it's not the same as just a general error because no one would ever say 'myself is going to the shops' - so they do know the right phrase is 'I am going to the shops'. Why does adding an extra person in to the sentence mean that they feel the pronoun needs to change? Is this phrase taught in schools? I would genuinely like to know.

Right, here goes; tin hat ready...

[PleasantVille]

I definitely think the ‘myself’ thing has just come from email culture though? People don’t like to say ‘me’ in an email

That's interesting, I'd say it was more of a phone thing for example in call centres or, before emails, when younger employees wanted to appear more educated and thought myself was a way to do that.

[OchonAgusOchonO]

@AngelicInnocent - Is there anybody else that will rewrite entire sentences if you doubt that what you have written is correct? Or sometimes just because it doesn't feel right or you know that the person receiving it will think it is incorrect, even when it isn't.

I make a point of always using "and me" correctly, especially when I know the recipient would use "and I" instead.

[AngelicInnocent]

Is there anybody else that will rewrite entire sentences if you doubt that what you have written is correct? Or sometimes just because it doesn't feel right or you know that the person receiving it will think it is incorrect, even when it isn't.

E. G. My family and I went to the zoo becomes I went to the zoo with my family.

[UnaCorda]

No, that using me in relation to another person is always wrong and should always be I.

So would he say, "She gave the book to I?" That's in relation to another person.

He corrects me if I say it in front of the dc and says it’s important to him that they learn proper grammar.

If it's so important to him he'd better learn some himself!

[lovinglavidaloca]

Interesting! I was definitely taught at school never to say me and Rhona, always Rhona and I but NEVER told that sometimes it should be Rhona and me.

I definitely think the ‘myself’ thing has just come from email culture though? People don’t like to say ‘me’ in an email.

[Destroyedpeople]

Mrs koala I expect some old biddy told him that in junior school and it stuck.

[Destroyedpeople]

Well tell him that apart from being totally wrong Re the grammar he shouldn't be correcting you like that. My brother always takes it upon himself to be the language police...pulling me up on my use of english.....We don't talk any more... ever..

Explain to him that you have to imagine the extra person is not there. Would it then be 'me' or I'?

Right so the extra person doesn't change that..

[MrsKoala]

That doesn't make any sense. Is your husband claiming that the word "me" doesn't exist? How can it (or any bona fide word) always be wrong?

No, that using me in relation to another person is always wrong and should always be I. He corrects me if I say it in front of the dc and says it’s important to him that they learn proper grammar.

[UnaCorda]

I suppose you (not yourself...) might need to ask if someone can manage to administer it himself or herself, as in to himself or by herself...

Which is, I believe, one of the few correct uses of the reflexive pronoun; i.e. when something is actually reflexive. (Who'd have thought?)

[WillAshton]

Also,surely "Is it for yourself? " is correct grammatically?

Erm, no it's not.

Exactly. I suppose you (not yourself...) might need to ask if someone can manage to administer it himself or herself, as in to himself or by herself, but a pharmacy doesn't automatically need 'yourself' in place of 'you'.

[UnaCorda]

So a medicine may be for you but not for yourself, it is an important distinction.

The only clear distinction there is between correct and incorrect grammar.

You seem to be suggesting that if the customer replied, "It's for me" that means they are simply collecting it, where if they say, "It's for myself" it means that they will actually be taking the medicine, whereas I think semantically it's far more equivocal than that.

Also,surely "Is it for yourself? " is correct grammatically?

Erm, no it's not.

[Busybusybust]

Isn’t this use of ‘myself’ a Black Country/Midland thing? Drives me mad too, as does the incorrect use of ‘I’ and the substitution of ‘myself’

[Moviestar]

Hi Toothsil. Can I just say in defence of pharmacy staff, it is crucially important that the staff verifies the medicine being puchased is being used by the actual person themselves, not for someone else.
It is the first thing you have to verify .
So a medicine may be for you but not for yourself, it is an important distinction.
You'd be surprised the number of people who will purchase an item for an elderly/ very ill (on 97 other medicines) person and unless specifically asked will not mention the fact or the possible 97 interacting medicines. Also,surely "Is it for yourself? " is correct grammatically?

[GoatyGoatyMingeMinge]

A senior lecturer copied me in to an email to a student the other day where she said "we have a laptop we can lend you and myself have sent you the details..."

This is simply appalling grammar, and from an academic

She should be made to write 500 times:
myself has sent you the details
myself has sent you the details ...

[UnaCorda]

A senior lecturer copied me in to an email to a student the other day where she said "we have a laptop we can lend you and myself have sent you the details..."

Yikes. Is your field totally unrelated to spoken or written language? Presumably this person has a doctorate? Using words?

[ShinyMe]

I bloody hate all the myself/yourself nonsense. And I can't understand why so many educated people do it.

A senior lecturer copied me in to an email to a student the other day where she said "we have a laptop we can lend you and myself have sent you the details..."

[Namechanger4dis]

I hate it. Using myself and yourself inappropriately is one of the few things I judge people on.

I once worked with a slimey bastard who thought he was Gods gift to the world. He was in fact thick as shit. Listening to him day in day out use myself/yourself on the phone 100 times a day was the closest I came to murder.

Even now if someone uses it I assume they aren’t as intelligent as those who know the correct usage.

[UnaCorda]

Just heard this: "It's really hard for people to understand me and Dave's relationship."

Ugh. I once heard someone exhorting a group of people to "come to Fiona and I's exhibition."

[UnaCorda]

I say that I is not always right but he says me is always wrong.

That doesn't make any sense. Is your husband claiming that the word "me" doesn't exist? How can it (or any bona fide word) always be wrong?

[Andylion]

Just heard this:

"It's really hard for people to understand me and Dave's relationship."
😕

[Footle]

One phenomenon,@delphiniumblue. Two phenomena.

[Andylion]

@GrizzlebumsMum

“On behalf of myself and First Great Western [...]”. Is it possible to speak on your own behalf?

I think it is possible to speak on your own behalf, particularly if the people to whom you are speaking might reasonably assume that you speak for a group.

I googled it and came up with the same example you gave. I don't know the website. It might be American.

https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/226009/does-on-behalf-of-myself-make-sense/269861

I often hear the following, particularly during announcements when travelling by rail or air:

[MumW]

Along with " he's with the angles now " in facebook sympathy messages .
I always want to say that I hope he's with the right angles and not the acute ones.

[MumW]

Drives me round the bend too, along with "bear with"
Bear with ME or maybe myself

[OchonAgusOchonO]

..but I guess from your username that you are Irish

Yes. My username is my homage to Peig Sayers. You know what they say - what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.