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When someone’s answering the telephone, you might hear them say “This is she” or “This is her”—but which one is grammatically correct? Although “This is she” was considered the grammatically correct choice for a long time, “This is her” has grown in popularity since the 20th century. Eventually, “This is her” was considered to be acceptable, too, especially in informal contexts like talking on the telephone. Keep reading to learn more about this interesting grammar rule.
Things You Should Know
- You can use either “This is she” or “This is her.” Although “This is she” was grammatically correct for years, “This is her” is also grammatically acceptable.
- “This is she” was grammatically correct because the verb “to be” is a linking verb, which makes the subject pronouns “this” and “she” interchangeable.
- “Her” is an object pronoun and can’t be switched with “this,” which is why it was considered incorrect. However, “this is her” is less formal and sounds more natural.
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References
- ↑ https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/it-is-i-or-it-is-me-predicate-nominative-usage-guide
- ↑ https://www.thesaurus.com/e/grammar/it-is-i-vs-its-me/
- ↑ https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/qanda/data/faq/topics/Pronouns/faq0001.html
- ↑ https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/qanda/data/faq/topics/Pronouns/faq0001.html
- ↑ https://editorsmanual.com/articles/it-is-i-or-me/
- ↑ https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/it-is-i-or-it-is-me-predicate-nominative-usage-guide
- ↑ https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/eb/qa/How-to-Respond-on-the-Phone
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