Mind Your Pronouns In Business Writing

Incorrect use of pronouns is one of the most common grammar mistakes in business writing today.

(1) Specifically, people get confused about when to use “I” or “me.”

Here is the rule:

“I” is always the subject of a verb.

“Me” is the object of a verb or preposition.

Incorrect Example: Send your invoices to Tony or I.

(You would never say “Send your invoices to I.” One trick in getting this right is to mentally delete the “Tony or” clause and see how it sounds.)

Correct Example: Kevin and I headed to the regulatory meeting.

(“I” is the subject of the verb “headed”)

Incorrect Example: Tom and me played golf yesterday. (You would not say “Me played golf yesterday.”)

Correct Example: They shipped the order to Tom and me.

(“Me” is the object of the preposition “to.” Again, you would never say “They shipped the order to I.)

 

(2) The reflexive pronoun is “myself, himself, herself,” etc. It is often used incorrectly in business writing, likely because it sounds more formal. Here are some examples.

Incorrect Example: They shipped the order to Tom and myself. (should be “Tom and me”)

Incorrect Example: Todd and myself attended the committee meeting. (should be “Todd and I”)

Here is the rule:

Use a reflexive pronoun when the subject and the object of the action are the same.

Correct Example: I drive myself to seminars. (You would not write, “I drive me to seminars.” Here the subject and the object are the same)

Correct Example: Teresa gave herself a raise. (“Teresa gave her a raise” has an entirely different meaning)

Correct Example: I myself have to think about the rules sometimes. (Here, the reflexive pronoun is used for emphasis, which is fine)

 

(3) Switching from singular to plural pronoun reference is routinely spotted in business writing today. This applies specifically to indefinite pronouns, such as anyone, everyone, someone, no one, nobody, each, every, etc.

Here is the rule:

Pronouns need to agree in number and gender with the nouns to which they refer.

Incorrect Example: Everyone must do their budget on time.

Correct Example: Everyone must do his or her budget on time.

Incorrect Example: Each employee is responsible for punching their time card.

Correct Example: Each employee is responsible for punching a time card.

Incorrect Example: Every division manager will address their wholesalers at the conference.

Correct Example: All division managers will address their wholesalers at the conference. (Try switching to the plural to avoid constantly using “his or her”)

Incorrect Example: They must support aging parents along with children that won’t fly the nest.

Correct Example: They must support aging parents along with children who won’t fly the nest. (NOTE: This is a frequent error of pronoun reference. People should be referred to as “who” not “that”)