# "Me" is not a dirty word

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/me-is-not-a-dirty-word/506220>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [August 12, 2009, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/me-is-not-a-dirty-word/506220 "2009-08-12T20:43:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/me-is-not-a-dirty-word/506220/61 "2009-08-14T17:24:22Z")

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> [@amarone](#):
>
> Bob is older than Bill and I.
> 
> In the latter case, without Bill should it be “Bob is older than I” because of an implied “am” at the end?

Or an implied “are”. If it’s “Bob is older than we are”, “we” is a subject and so is “I”, so, “Bob is older than Bill and I [are].”

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**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/me-is-not-a-dirty-word/506220/62 "2009-08-14T18:24:28Z")

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> [@gigi](#):
>
> Or an implied “are”. If it’s “Bob is older than we are”, “we” is a subject and so is “I”, so, “Bob is older than Bill and I [are].”

I think I love you. It’s nice to know I’m not screaming alone.

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**Author:** ![Mojo\_Pin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mojo\_Pin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo_Pin)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2009, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/me-is-not-a-dirty-word/506220/63 "2009-08-15T09:49:56Z")

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I thought I had a pretty good feel for English, but “he’s older than me” just doesn’t bother me. I’d probably never say “Bob is older than I” without having to think twice.  
As for “Bob and I’s friend”, I think fachvirwirrt’s suggestion of making the possessive parallel (Bob’s and my friend) is the most natural.

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**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/me-is-not-a-dirty-word/506220/64 "2009-08-17T14:27:34Z")

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> [@Mojo\_Pin](#):
>
> I thought I had a pretty good feel for English, but “he’s older than me” just doesn’t bother me. I’d probably never say “Bob is older than I” without having to think twice.  
> As for “Bob and I’s friend”, I think fachvirwirrt’s suggestion of making the possessive parallel (Bob’s and my friend) is the most natural.

I find myself saying “Bob is older than I am” so it doesn’t sound stilted but is also correct.

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