Pet Peeve
This is going to be a quickie, but I’ve heard it at least three times today, and I’m totally freaked out. I simply cannot remain silent any longer.
The straw that’s breaking this camel’s back was hearing it not only used on The Rachel Maddow Show, but actually used by Rachel herself. And she’s a Rhodes Scholar, for heaven’s sake.
I cannot quote you the exact sentence that she uttered, although I could sit here and watch her program over again so I could quote you chapter and verse. But I’m going to just wing it.
Here is an example: “Me and Charlie were both taken aback at the Attorney General’s testimony.”
No, my objection is not to the reference to the testimony. It’s to the use of “me and anybody.”
Of course, I don’t need to tell any of you that the above phrase, if one were to have a friend whose name is Charlie and if you both were sentient beings, should read (or be stated): “Charlie and I were both taken aback at the Attorney General’s testimony.”
I hear the use of “me and so-and-so” all the time anymore, and I am totally flummoxed by it. Why does no one realize and recognize that this is totally incorrect usage? It’s like nails down a chalkboard to me every time I hear it!
Listen to Yourself!
I learned a long time ago (was it you, Mrs. Case?) that the best way to figure out what word is appropriate in this situation is to break it down into separate sentences and say it to yourself. For instance, would you say, “Me was taken aback…?” or (let us get on our knees and pray) would you say “I was taken aback…?”
Right.
It’s easy if you break it down – and listen.
I know, I know. You’re probably all thinking I’m some kind of grammar fanatic. And I’m actually not.
I’ll admit to having a couple of copies of Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style floating around in my house. But quite honestly, most of what I catch are things that don’t sound right. And whenever anyone refers to themselves as “me” it jangles my ear.
And I swear, more and more people are misspeaking in this way.
Bad Habits Have a Way of Becoming Acceptable
It actually appears to just be a bad habit. But it’s a bad habit that is spreading like a cold sore from person to person. And yeah, it’s ugly like a cold sore, too. Because when you speak English as a native speaker, you should at least get the basics right. In fact, I suspect people who’ve had to learn English as a second (or third or fourth) language probably never make this mistake.
I am hearing it in dialogue on tv shows and in movies. I hear it in everyday conversations far more than I would like. But as I said, when I heard it used by Rachel Maddow tonight, I nearly lost my mind. I actually scrambled for my laptop and was going to write her an email chiding her for her mistake, but then decided not to even bother.
After writing this post, perhaps I’ll change my mind. We’ll see.
(Is this where I should raise my fist and yell, “Get off my lawn!?”) Perhaps.
Hey, we all have to have standards. And wow, we’re seeing standards fall to dismal lows everywhere we look. Language is important.
(T-940)