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Grammar Tip #2: Do Not Say “I” When You Should Say “Me”
Many people say “I” when they mean “me”—particularly in sentences like the ones below, where there are two objects: the person who is speaking and someone else.
For example:
WRONG: She gave the bad news to Joe and I.
WRONG: I don’t know why they got so mad at her and I.
RIGHT: She gave the bad news to Joe and me.
RIGHT: I don’t know why they got so mad at her and me.
I think people make this mistake because they learned (correctly) to use “I” when speaking about themselves as subjects, as in:
RIGHT: Claire and I went to the movie.
They learned not to say:
WRONG: Claire and me went to the movie.
Here’s how to know whether to use “I” or “me”: take out the other person. Would you say, “She gave the bad news to I?” No, you wouldn’t. Unless you were Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. But she made it sound fabulous.
Starbucks Grammar Incident
OK, this isn’t really a grammar tip, but I am sliding it into this category anyway. I just want people to know that I am on guard for the English language.
So Starbucks has been selling these cute spelling bee mugs–part of the line of merchandise that goes with their promo of Akeelah and the Bee (has anyone actually seen that movie?). Each mug has a tough spelling word and its definition. One of the words is “meticulosity.” Not that I have ever heard anyone use this word, but apparently it is real– the noun form of the adjective “meticulous.” To my horror, the Starbucks mug said that meticulosity was an adjective. Does this mean that Starbucks can’t afford an editor?
I want to reassure you that I emailed them as soon as I got to a computer, and today I got an email back (after a week or so of sitting on shpilkes waiting for a reply):
“Your feedback is very important to us, so we appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts. I want to assure you that I’ve passed on your comments to the appropriate people in our company for their attention.”
I feel better already. Though if I don’t hear from them soon, I may take them up on their suggestion to call Customer Relations at (800) 23-LATTE.
PS Yes maybe I should stop drinking Starbucks and also put my energy into tackling more important social issues. I just can’t think of any.
Sarah at Word on the Street, Sept 24
I will have a table at Word Under the Street (the underground part of Word On the Street) with my friend and fellow artist/writer Eve Corbel of True
Funnies (aka Mary Schendlinger). We will be selling comics, fridge magnets, bookmarks and more! Please come see us there! Buy our stuff! Enter the best draw at the festival: You can win “One Panel Starring Me”: a framed comic by Sarah and Eve illustrating a story from your life! And come see featured artist/writer Joe Sacco, whom we are “adopting” for the festival.
www.thewordonthestreet.ca
Here’s some of what I’ll be selling…
Zines inspired by Harlequins
Bookmarks: The Small Dogs Classics series (on gold cardstock)
Eventually this stuff might all be posted here in full. But it’s best to come get it in person at WUTS.
More from Northern BC and Vancouver Island
I also learned to shoot a .22 somewhere on the outskirts of 100 Mile House.
And we saw the grooviest flag person ever near Courtenay.
The biggest challenge for me was relaxing. Do you think it’s a Jewish thing?
Sketches from Northern BC
In July my partner and I travelled to Northern BC. We took 400 photos of the most incredible scenery in the world. I sketched the other stuff.
Like when a logging truck hit a little car so traffic was stopped on the highway and everyone got out of their cars including a crowd of Mennonites.
And when we stopped at a swimming hole and met a family. The little kid:
The aunt:
The girl with swimmer’s itch:
Heavy Metal Yoga
This is something I recommend for anyone. Try AC/DC first. Aside from metal, Eminem and Tricky are also some excellent choices. You might be skeptical, but it really helps you focus on the poses, particularly in power yoga when you want to get all intense and sweaty.
Creatures in Pencil and Highlighter
I find that doodling with pencil can be greatly enlivened by skillfully added highlighter. Note how the lemon yellow indeed “highlights” the apt juxtaposition of work and play. 
The Enemy
This is a satirical comic inspired by some feminists’ aversion to including male-to-female transsexuals in women-only space.
