I vs me

We use both I and me when talking about ourselves: I when we are the subject of a sentence, me when we are the object a verb refers to.

• I am buying a car. → We are the subject doing something.
• The party was organized by me. → We are the object the verb refers to.

When we add another person to the mix, those rules seemingly go out the window for many people. When talking about us and another person, we generally name the other person first. We are listed after them, as either and I or and me.

It is all too common for people to overuse (and misuse) and I. The choice between the options follows the same rule as before. Adding more people to the sentence does not change that.

• My wife and I are buying a car. → We are still the subject.
• The party was organized by Matilda and me. → The verb still refers to us.

The quickest way to find out whether a sentence requires and I or and me is to remove the other people. You wouldn’t say “me am buying a car” or “the party was organized by I”. Once you know that, adding the other people back in won’t change your choice of I or me.

If you only think about yourself, choosing between and I or and me becomes much easier. Sometimes being selfish pays off.

In some sentences, both I or me would work, but the choice drastically changes their meaning:

• He likes food more than I. → He likes food more than I like food.
• He likes food more than me. → He likes food more than he likes me.