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High Plains Drifter · Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 127 Location: Way Out There

�such as yourself� This isn�t an emphatic pronoun anyway. An emphatic pronoun would be �such as you, yourself�. What you wrote is an example of an extremely common but nonstandard use of reflexive pronouns.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

'Such as yourself' is given as an example of correct use in the CGEL, and there is no suggestion it is sub-standard.

"A University Grammar of English" by Quirk and Greenbaum, section 4.85, states "In variation with personal pronouns, reflexives often occur after ,as, like, but, except and in co-ordinated phrases. Again the examples do not suggest non-standard usage.

The American Heritage Dictionary tends to support the idea that the construction is best avoided:" The �self pronouns, such as myself, yourselves, and herself, are sometimes used as emphatic substitutes for personal pronouns, as in "Like yourself, I have no apologies to make". ..... Although these usages have been common in the writing of reputable authors for several centuries, they may sound overwrought". A significant majority of the usage panel disapproves of the usage, though that still leaves a sizeable minority which sees nothing wrong.

Combining the three sources given, I suspect this is another case where the construction is more acceptable in British English than in American English. I certainly have no objection to being in the same boat as "reputable authors for several centuries" and the two leading academic grammars of English - though if I were in the same boat as them I suspect they'd all put me down to bail out the water Smile

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

While you're lurking, try learning to write.

Maybe that would allow you to communicate, instead of launching your snide gobbledegook from the sidelines.

Zero Hero · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Posts: 944

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

Moonraven is not a THEY, so could not have dedicated THEIR life to education. She is singular.

Twinkle, twinkle illiterate troll--and while you are at it, look up the difference between singular and plural personal pronouns and adjectives.

Zero Hero · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Posts: 944

Actually, as all other posters will fully know, I employed "their" as I do not know your gender. It is a gender-neutral pronoun.

Besides, I do not necessarily believe you are female anymore than I necessarily believe you are a published polyglot Native American 60s-survivor dissident PhD.

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

Their is NOT an acceptable usage to refer to one person. That is why the usage that you claim to be acceptable appears in the grammar (locate the error) sections on all the international exams.

The usage is his/her.

And the word is SCRAPING.

Unless you mean I am throwing out the bottom of the barrel--that is to say, "scrapping" it.

Come to think of it, I am. No more attention for you, troll.

mskana · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5

Next time I will ensure that I dot all my i's and cross my t's.I have never come across an egomaniac such as stephen jones.I do not have to impress anyone with my grammatical or spelling skillls in here.It is just a forum,so don't be so anal and uptight! This has now just become an opportunity for people to capitalise on one another's mistakes.The bottom line is there is racism in the industry,no matter how I spell or use grammar!

Zero Hero · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Posts: 944

Zero Hero · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Posts: 944

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Well, I'm no spring chicken either (unfortunately) but 13 months still seems like a fair-sized chunk of time to me.