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"Me" is not a subject word!

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Marte Cliff Copywriting

I know – some folks are looking at this and thinking "Here she goes again, nagging about grammar." At least one is thinking, "Grammar rants don't belong on Active Rain." (I know this, because he told me so.)

But meanwhile, I keep ranting about this subject because there ARE a lot of people who do care aboutgrammar book grammar.

They consider bad grammar to be a sign that the speaker/writer lacks education, intelligence, or both. Thus, they want to do business with agents who at least know the basics.

I doubt if any of them care whether an agent knows the proper terminology for every part of speech or has the ability to correctly outline a sentence.

Most will also probably overlook a typo, but they WILL be put off if an agent says "Me and my clients…"

Why is this incorrect?

Because "me" is not a subject pronoun. It's an object. "I" is a subject pronoun.

Additionally, putting yourself first in the sequence is considered the height of bad manners. Put the clients (or your spouse, children, or friends) first.

So rather than saying "Me and my clients" the writer or speaker should say "My clients and I."

The clue to help you get it right: Write the sentence leaving out the other person.

Most who paid attention in grammar school would not say something like "Me visited 3 open houses on Sunday," or "Me went on vacation." That's sort of like a 2-year-old saying "Me want a cookie."

"Me too!" may be a common saying, but it's still incorrect.

"Myself" is not a subject pronoun either, nor is it an object pronoun. It's reflexive – which means you only use it to reflect back to yourself. You use it in sentences such as:

  • I scolded myself for using the wrong word.
  • I attended the real estate convention by myself.
  • I left a note reminding myself to proofread my own copy.
  • I speak only for myself when I say…

Here's the clue – only use it if you've already written "I."  

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Comments (34)

Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

... and then there are those who try to be correct and say "between you and I", which is VERY incorrect. Also, I think good grammar belongs everywhere, for the reasons you mentioned.

May 27, 2016 07:50 AM
Marte Cliff

Olga Simoncelli I agree that it's usually people who are trying too hard to be correct who make that mistake. I think the same goes for the misuse of "myself." 

May 27, 2016 07:58 AM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Yes, this drives me, bonkers, too.

Interesting about "me too." It is actually sometimes technically correct and other times incorrect, pending on whether it's referring to the subject or object.  But, it has become an idiom and "I too" sounds too formal.  (I just googled some of this because something wasn't sitting right, and now I see why.).

May 27, 2016 09:44 AM
Marte Cliff

Debbie Gartner Yes, now that you mention it, I can see a few times when that would be correct. Meanwhile, I'm sure glad we have places to google when we have a question! 

May 27, 2016 09:57 AM
Lisa Von Domek
Lisa Von Domek Team - Dallas, TX
....Experience Isn't Expensive.... It's Priceless!

 Me loves your grammar posts Marte Cliff    if there is someone that does not,  they don't have to read them...but that would be their loss!

May 27, 2016 11:01 AM
Marte Cliff

Lisa Von Domek Thanks. That's my idea as well - not that it would be their loss, but that they don't have to read any post they don't want to read. I sure don't! 

May 27, 2016 03:18 PM
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

Hi Marte Cliff ,  Thanks for the refresher course.  Is it snack time...Me want a cookie!    Have a great Holiday weekend.

May 27, 2016 11:57 AM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

Marte -- It's been awhile since I looked at these rules. Thanks for the refresher and for the hints on when to use "me" "myself" etc.

May 27, 2016 12:57 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Joan Whitebook My guess is that you don't need to look at the rules. I'm betting that you just use them. 

May 27, 2016 03:22 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Keep your grammar posts coming!

Thanks for the rules regarding the right usage of "me," "myself," and "I."

May 27, 2016 08:01 PM
Marte Cliff

Thanks Kat Palmiotti - I appreciate you coming by. 

May 28, 2016 02:07 AM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Marte, I love your posts on grammar. I am guilty of saying 'Me Too " sometimes. 

May 27, 2016 08:48 PM
Marte Cliff

Gita Bantwal I'm sure I'm guilty of saying it too. Many of the things that have become common in our speech are grammatically incorrect. 

May 28, 2016 02:08 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Well I don't and won't be saying me and my clients, but I will likely continue to say me too.  

May 27, 2016 10:59 PM
Marte Cliff

Tammy Lankford, I don't think I have occasion to say it often, but I'm sure that when it fits, I do. 

May 28, 2016 02:08 AM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

ME...a name I call myself....FA...a longer way to run..sorry, I took liberties but the song came up for me . Good post and thank you Marte Cliff 

May 27, 2016 11:20 PM
Marte Cliff

Richie Alan Naggar I love it when something triggers an old song to start playing in my head - as long as it leaves again within an hour or so! It makes me crazy when the same song keeps playing for 2 or 3 days. 

May 28, 2016 02:09 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Marte Cliff ,

Well deserved featured post! Thanks for the grammar lesson..love reading your posts you tell it like it is and then some!

May 28, 2016 12:54 AM
Marte Cliff

Thanks Dorie Dillard - As long as I get comments like yours I'll keep writing them. 

May 28, 2016 02:10 AM
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

Grammar rants belong where authors and bloggers gather. I find your grammar blogs informative and I appreciate them. I'm sure if I review my body of work, I'm being a hypocrite right now, but I can't stand it when people use improper grammar in conversations. I figuratively feel a car crash in my brain and lose focus on what they are saying as I think about how they should have said it.

Mama was strict about manners, grammar and sitting up straight.

May 28, 2016 01:14 AM
Marte Cliff

Thomas J. Nelson, Realtor I am quite sure that my grammar is improper at times. In fact, I know it is. As a copywriter, we're taught that since copy should be conversational, so for instance, it's just fine to use sentence fragments.


For strict grammarians, that's probably just as jarring as "Me and my clients" is to me. 

May 28, 2016 02:13 AM
Sham Reddy CRS
Howard Hanna RE Services, Dayton, OH - Dayton, OH
CRS

Thanks for a nice little grammar update, we all can use being corrected from time to time!!!

May 28, 2016 01:17 AM
Marte Cliff

Thanks Sham Reddy - what I really enjoy is when an agent writes with a grammar question and I have to look up the answer. Then we both learn something. 

May 28, 2016 02:14 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Marte,  Me want cookie ... yes that does sound like a 2 year old. 

There are many MANY ESL folks in my area ... and their grammar is easily forgiven. I just want to ensure that I understand their communication. For the most part, I do.  If not, I clarify.

May 28, 2016 01:55 AM
Marte Cliff

Yes Kathleen Daniels - I have nothing but admiration for those who are working hard to master our complex, confusing language. I'm sure they're paying more attention to grammar than most of our present-day high school students. 

May 28, 2016 02:16 AM
Claude Labbe
RLAH / @properties - Washington, DC
Realty for Your Busy Life

I like today's grammar lesson, as it does apply to me at times.

(that was written correctly, right?)

May 28, 2016 05:33 AM
Marte Cliff

Thanks Claude Labbe - I'm glad if I can help keep you on the straight and narrow! 


And yes - as far as I know, that was written correctly. 

May 28, 2016 05:51 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Marte- we've discussed this before and it is unfortunate because I keep hearing "me and Joe" used more and more.  I cringe when I hear it and like Dick Greenberg said, hearing it is like fingernails on a chalkboard for me. Thank you for highlighting this. 

May 28, 2016 06:46 AM
Marte Cliff

Kathy Streib If only the bloggers who need to learn it would read and heed... It really does make them look bad.

May 28, 2016 07:02 AM
Jennifer Mackay
Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. - Panama City, FL
Your Bay County Florida Realtor 850.774.6582

Oh boy - I am by no means a grammar specialist but it drives me up a wall when I hear improper grammer - IMO it's obscene to the english language and a disgrace - thanks for sharing

May 28, 2016 10:40 PM
Marte Cliff

Jennifer Mackay I think it's a disgrace if the speaker/writer has been educated in an American school and supposedly being taught grammar from first grade on.


I get really annoyed when I read a letter to the editor written by a teacher and the grammar is deficient. For instance, the letter one of our 4th grade teachers wrote that said "When myself and my friends were..." 


It doesn't bother me when the writer/speaker is mastering English as a 2nd or 3rd language. I just admire them for doing as well as they do. 

May 29, 2016 12:55 AM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Marte Cliff one more post from you I have bookmarked.

Grammar is something that shows who we are. Specially dealing with the clients.  And there may be 'me me' for fun, when it comes to dealing with clients - do it right!

May 29, 2016 03:58 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Thanks Praful Thakkar Yes, our speech does define who we are. There's a huge difference in perception if we see "Dear Mr. Jones" as opposed to "Yo Dude!" 

May 30, 2016 01:05 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

They consider bad grammar to be a sign that the speaker/writer lacks education, intelligence, or both. Thus, they want to do business with agents who at least know the basics.

Yep.

You know, when I try to call you out with the @ sign here on AR it doesn't work. I referenced you in a recent post in the Q&A section.

May 30, 2016 04:00 AM
Marte Cliff

Hi Lyn Sims. I wonder why it doesn't work. But maybe it's just the Q&A program. I'm thinking that I was unable to reference someone there a couple of weeks ago. 


But anyway - thanks! 

May 30, 2016 05:41 AM