I voted for yourself
As a grammar nerd I get excited when English language chat enters the mainstream, so I’m having a good week.
Those currently watching BBC series The Traitors will know what I’m talking about.
Amid mountains of discussion around the gameplay and Claudia Winkleman’s incredible wardrobe has been criticism of the way that players, when they have to say who they’ve nominated, will use the term ‘yourself’ instead of ‘you’ as in:
“I voted for yourself Minah.”
I’m not here to talk about the rights and wrongs - although this Reddit comment sums it up: “Using ‘yourself’ and ‘myself’ instead of ‘you’ and ‘me’ doesn't make you sound professional and important. It makes you sound like an illiterate nonentity."
Ouch.
I’m here to comment on the fact that I think ‘yourself’ is often used because it sounds less confrontational than ‘you’ which is very direct and can sound somewhat accusatory in a context like The Traitors.
Of course, that doesn't make it right.
But isn’t it funny how tiny changes can make such a big difference?
The point made in the Reddit comment about ‘yourself’ being an attempt at professionalism is interesting too. Many people hide behind archaic or longer sounding words to sound clever or worldly. Sometimes plain words don’t sound weighty enough.
- 'Whilst' 'instead of 'while'
- 'The aforementioned' instead of 'this'
- 'The 'undernoted' instead of 'the below'
This can be a problem for us in marketing when we want to use plain and clear English so clients can understand what they’re signing up to, but we also want to sound professional and authoritative.
But there’s a difference between being clear and being simplistic. It takes skill to get this right.
As in the famous Mark Twain quote, writing succinctly requires effort: “I didn't have time to write you a short letter, so I wrote you a long one.”
Stay faithful.
Shameless plug
Part 2 of my 'money story' is out now: I cover the boom years in Track 2: It's a family affair. I'd love to know what you think 😁.
Sweat it out
1959, Alan Whicker and Fyfe Robertson took to the streets to canvas opinion from the great British public on how to conquer the flu.
Hurkle-durkle
Hurkle-durkle is the new sleep trend - it means "to lie in bed or to lounge after it’s time to get up or go to work". Sounds great to me.
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