People like myself

Parent Cafe
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<p>I’m asking this question here, because you guys are such great grammar experts. It appears to me, that people use the word “myself” in place of “me” in order to sound more intelligent. But I haven’t been able to find in a grammar book for sure which is the correct expression:</p>

<p>People like myself</p>

<p>People like me.</p>

<p>There are many, many other examples where people use “myself” when I think the proper word is “me”. I heard it again today on sportscenter and it bugs me. Or am I wrong?</p>

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<p>In the sentence you have posted, I believe the correct word is “myself”.</p>

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<p>But Janelle, some people do like me. :wink: (If it is a sentence, the second one is correct. Think about it. )</p>

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<p>3bm103, you’re absolutely right. In the example you used, “me” is really the correct choice. </p>

<p>Spoken English is what it is, and grammar rules can bend and break for literary effect, and over time. And SportsCenter is not the place to go for examples of grammar at its best.</p>

<p>Properly, though, “myself” is a reflexive pronoun, not a posh-sounding version of “me.” It belongs in sentences like “I can do it myself,” and “I reserved some of the chocolate-covered coffee beans for myself.”</p>

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<p>Depends on the use in context or the intended meaning.</p>

<p>I suspect the discordance to your ear lies not so much with the me/myself as it does with the like/such as.</p>

<p>People such as myself… [meaning to include myself in the group of people, calling for “such as”]</p>

<p>-Or-</p>

<p>Standard versus nonstandard usage of the reflexive pronoun. See “Non-standard usage” here:
[Reflexive</a> pronoun - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflexive_pronoun]Reflexive”>Reflexive pronoun - Wikipedia)</p>

<p>People like me… [standard usage]</p>

<p>I feel well about this explanation, don’t you? ;)</p>

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<p>Curmudgeon, we LIKE you! we REALLY LIKE you! :D</p>

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<p>Thanks. I was just having some morning fun with Janelle. Carry on. ;)</p>

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<p>That’s indibutable. Thanks for posturing your hypoanalysis. I studied linguinistics my own self and I can veracitate it for true. And I’m proud to do it. Chow.</p>

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<p>^^To summarize:</p>

<p>People like me like people such as yourself. :)</p>

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<p>“Myself” can be used reflexively in place of me as the object of a preposition or as the direct or indirect object of a verb, but it can also be use used as an intensive form of “me,” as in “I myself did these wonderful things.”</p>

<p>In Latin you can not only say “I myself…” (Ego ipse…) but you can also add another layer of intensifier: “Ego ipse per se…” which is usually translated as “I myself through myself…” for occasions when you really wish to boast.</p>

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<p>

Sportscasting and proper grammar… </p>

<p>Hmm, I believe they operate in parallel universes. Except when they operate in opposing universes which are usually on a collision course :o.</p>

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<p>Which could certainly come in handy here on CC, couldn’t it? ;)</p>

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<p>How about, people like myself like me.</p>

<p>(Everyone else thinks I’m a snarky pedant. :))</p>

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<p>Or as my mother would remark about some snobbish person, “I love me, who do you love?”</p>

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<p>Ohh, haha yeah. I was wrong! Opps!</p>