'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...

[LittlePearl]

Agree wholeheartedly, I can't bear it.

Also hate 'going forward'' and 'what was your name?'

Was?

[TimeWastingButFun]

Me myself I hate that alot too

The thing that really winds me up is when cold callers ring up and say (usually first name like we're old friends) 'and how is yourself today'? Grrr!

[GoatyGoatyMingeMinge]

how is yourself today

Better or worse than: "How's you?"

🤬

[fairycrossthemersey]

@SuperficialSuzie

Muphry's Law strikes again!

[Westfacing]

I'm not bothered by I and me being used incorrectly as it's easily done, but myself is usually said by those who think it sounds posher. Can't stand it!

Myself & partner are the opening words of so many threads on MN - why?

[MrsKoala]

I used to know all this stuff (didn’t learn it at school as went to a shit one but did do English A level a long time ago) but now I can’t remember it. What throws me is when others say it/write it and I think it sounds wrong but then I doubt myself (or is it me? ). Now every time I say myself In any context it sounds weird so I try not to use it at all. So many people say so many variations now I’ve forgotten what it’s all meant to be. I don’t think it’s trying to sound clever more being unconfident, so copying others.

I can’t remember whether it should be ‘Husband and I went somewhere’ or ‘Husband and me’ I just don’t know anymore! Being home with kids for 8 years has broken my brain.

[Westfacing]

Just remove the word husband and you'll know which one!

[whoknowswhichwayisup]

God this is the worst thing ever I am with you OP.

[DameDoom]

It's not taught in schools. Neither is the use of I or me.
It is taught in Y6 SPaG and has cropped up in previous SATs papers.
I agree with PP: The Apprentice candidates are squarely to blame. TWATS!

[ducksback]

I completely agree. It is hideous.

[DameDoom]

The correct use of I and me, that is - not hurling ‘myself’ around with giddy abandon!

[Andylion]

I once got annoyed by a sales person on the phone saying...
'Ms destroyed...myself is phoning yorself. ..'

That's just fucking confusing!

[EmbarrassedUser]

Aargh!! I cringe inside whenever my boss says something like ‘can you email Jane and I the information’ 😡😡 I feeling like screaming ‘you wouldn’t say can you send I the information’ She sounds like a douche every time she does it.

Phew thanks!

[Andylion]

I worked with a bloke who was so far up his own arse. He was giving a talk one day and started a sentence with I myself personally - I almost laughed. What a fucking arsehole...

I think saying "I, myself...." is correct . I think it is used for emphasis in that case. I have always suspected that this was the source for misuse as "I, myself" does sound more formal.

[tinytemper66]

I always correct the pupils I teach. When they write 'Me and my friend', I always change it to 'My friend and I'.

[Babdoc]

I started primary school in 1959, so suffered from the “let the little dears be creative, don’t crush their free expression with grammar” nonsense of the 1960’s. I did my best to fill the gaps later though, so I would never start a sentence with ”Myself and...”.
When I had my DC in 89 and 90, I made sure they were reading fluently and knew basic grammar before starting school - which was handy, as my 5 year old often had to correct her teacher’s spelling!
I suspect part of the problem is that children are not reading enough books these days to absorb good grammar from them unconsciously. My DC used to read up to 18 books a week in Primary 1.

[KevinsCarter]

Many moons ago I used to work in a company where the admin TM used myself, himself, herself and yourself a lot.

I used to get emails like this... "Hi Kevins. Myself was told by yourself that yourself would complete the reporting for (boss) and she herself said that it would be done by today but I have not had an email from yourself with the report attached for myself to send to himself. I am trying to confirm that it has defiantly been sent from yourself."

She couldn't spell definitely either. Now I am not the best at grammar, but there is a line...

[JingsMahBucket]

@Lockheart
It's not taught in schools. Neither is the use of I or me.

Wait a second. They don't teach this in UK schools? Are you serious? They teach this in the US. It's basic grammar.

[LakieLady]

Doesn't annoy me as much as telephone salespeople referring to me as "Yourself"

I have found my people!

When I was asked "Has yourself got a credit card at all?" when I was ordering something over the phone, I changed my mind and went elsewhere for whatever I was buying.

Do should of/would of/could of require their own thread, or can they share with yourselves and myself?

And what's with using "Obviously" as some kind of random word any old where in a sentence?

[JingsMahBucket]

@tinytemper66
I always correct the pupils I teach. When they write 'Me and my friend', I always change it to 'My friend and I'.

BLESS YOU. If you can reach just one or two of the next generation, that will keep me from losing my shit. I hate this mistake so much. @PrettyLittleBrownEyedMe YADNBU.

(And don't get me started with the amount of people who switch "brought" and "bought". WTF? HOW? They are totally different words. FFS, you didn't "bought your baby home from the hospital" unless you're engaged in child trafficking!)

[totallyoverthisbullshit]

I feel like I've missed something, I've not seen this once!

However, I may add, grammatically that's bloody terrible.

Surely it should be 'my family and I' or 'me and my family'.

[cardibach]

I always correct the pupils I teach. When they write 'Me and my friend', I always change it to 'My friend and I'
But me and my friend isn’t always incorrect, @tinytemper66
For example, ‘The waitress brought milkshakes to me and my friend’. It entirely depends on the sentence.

[JingsMahBucket]

@cardibach yes it is always incorrect. In grammar you’re never supposed to put yourself first. It’s always “Person and me” or “Person and I”.

[PrettyLittleBrownEyedMe]

Well, I am encouraged by all the answers so far! I feel a bit less like a voice in the wilderness now.

LakieLady could of/would of/should of can definitely share the thread.

As I seem to be among likeminded people, I'd also like to throw in to the discussion...

ONE criterion
MANY criteria

which NO ONE seems to get right - even quite sensible sources - although I feel slightly less irked by that one as people may genuinely just not know, while the 'myself' thing is making up rules willy-nilly.

babdoc I completely agree about the influence of books and reading. Everyone nowadays just absorbs everyone else's mistakes. I often think 'do people not NOTICE that you never see 'myself and .... ' in 'proper' texts - but maybe they actually don't.

[JingsMahBucket]

Who is teaching UK students to put “me” in the first position? Or is this UK colloquial speech that has never been corrected when you’re growing up/in school?