October 11, 2011, 19:56
KallehHer and I
I have a very well-educated (by schooling, that is) friend who makes a few grammatical errors.  Now, I know we aren't all that prescriptive here, so I have been able to live with most of them.  However, here's one I find unliveable:  "Her and I were talking about the situation."  
What do you think?  Am I too stringent in my grammatical views?  Or is this one example you can agree with me on?
October 11, 2011, 20:24
goofyI think I've used that construction too. It's a question of register - I know enough not to use it in formal writing, but I see no reason to try to avoid it in conversation.
October 11, 2011, 20:59
BobHaleIn m,y neck of the woods we say
"Me and her was talking."
What can I say? It's how I was brung up.
October 12, 2011, 01:23
arnieIt's not a construction I'd use in any register, but I've heard it, and similar, quite commonly.
October 12, 2011, 07:17
zmježdI'm sort of with Bob on this one. "her and I were" sounds wrong in any register, but "me and her were" is OK in informal conversation.
October 12, 2011, 10:25
KallehReally?  Even in talk at work, formal or informal?  I am surprised.
Now, if you say it's okay with informal talk, but not for formal talk, then I suppose I could work with you on this.  That is, you are talking whlie getting coffee with a colleague...fine, you can say "Her and I were in the marathon together."  But, then coffee is over, and you are part of a Webinar with people from all over the country.  Would you say, "Her and I are the PIs on this multi-site, NIH funded study."?  If not, then I think it comes down to habit.  If you get in the habit of saying "Her and I" informally, it is very likely you will blurt it out during a formal meeting.  Maybe none of you think that would be a problem, but I think it could be a career-affecting statement because people will wonder about your educational preparedness to undertake scholarly work or national or international initiatives that need to be disseminated widely.  I'm just saying...that's the reality.  
I am ready to be skewered!   

October 12, 2011, 12:49
<Proofreader>It is to laugh. Everyone knows the proper construction is "She and me."