New Year's Resolution #4

I Will Use I, Me, My and Mine Correctly

It's easy to use personal pronouns correctly when you're only talking about yourself, but as soon as more than one person is involved, it seems like it all falls apart. Today I read this sentence in the blogosphere:

I've been working on and off on a scrapbook of Joe and I's relationship.

Huh? I's relationship?

Often, mistaken pronouns are a symptom of overcorrection.  In school, we're taught to change our colloquial "me and Joe" to "Joe and I."  And that is correct -- when it's appropriate to use a nominal, non-possessive pronoun.  But that's not always the pronoun you need.

So forget about "Joe and I." Instead, say the sentence as if you were the only person involved in it.  You would never say "I's relationship." You would say "my relationship." The same pronouns apply, whether or not that Joe guy is around.

The Beatles demonstrate their mastery of pronouns.