Like Me vs. Like Myself – Which is Correct?
Both “like me” and “like myself” can be correct, but they serve different grammatical purposes. Use “like me” when me is the object of a comparison or preposition. Use “like myself” for reflexive emphasis or when myself refers back to the subject. In ordinary everyday comparisons, “like me” is usually natural.
Like Me or Like Myself – Which is Correct?
Both like me and like myself are valid American English expressions, but they are not interchangeable in every sentence. Like me is the normal choice when me receives an action, follows a preposition, or appears in a direct comparison. Like myself is a reflexive pronoun phrase used when it refers back to the subject or adds emphasis.
Many speakers incorrectly use myself simply because it sounds more formal. However, “myself” should not replace “me” automatically. In the sentence “People like me,” me is correct because it is the object of the verb like. In “I made the decision myself,” myself is correct because it emphasizes the subject I.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the subject-swap test. If the sentence would use him, her, or them, use me: “People like him” becomes “People like me.” If the sentence refers back to the subject and would use a reflexive pronoun such as himself or herself, use myself: “I reminded myself,” just as “She reminded herself.”
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| like me | Prepositional phrase | Similar to me or directed toward me | She enjoys music like me. |
| like myself | Reflexive pronoun phrase | Similar to the speaker, with emphasis or a reflexive meaning | People like myself can relate to that experience. |
How to Use Like Me
Like me is the standard, natural expression for saying that someone or something resembles you. It can follow the preposition like in a comparison, or me can function as the object of a verb or preposition. It is common in casual, professional, and formal English.
Use like me after verbs such as help, trust, invite, and admire when you are the person affected by the action. Use it after like when making a direct comparison.
Example 1: Nobody understands this problem like me.
Example 2: The organization supports students like me.
Example 3: If you need someone who knows the neighborhood, ask someone like me.
Etymology of the word Like Me
Like comes from Old English gelīc, meaning “similar” or “having the same form.” Me descends from Old English mē, the objective form of the first-person pronoun. Together, “like me” has long been used to express similarity or comparison.
How to Use Like Myself
Like myself combines the preposition like with the reflexive pronoun myself. It is correct when myself refers to the speaker and provides emphasis, or when it is part of a reflexive construction. It can sound more formal or deliberate than like me, but it is not automatically more grammatically correct.
In formal writing, be especially careful not to use myself where ordinary object pronoun me is required. “Please contact myself” is widely considered incorrect in standard English; “Please contact me” is the appropriate wording.
Example 1: I, like myself, prefer to review the details before deciding.
Example 2: I bought myself a jacket like the one in the window.
Example 3: People like myself often appreciate a quiet workspace.
In the third example, people like myself is acceptable because myself is used as an emphatic or formal-sounding reference to the speaker. In everyday conversation, however, people like me is usually more natural.
Etymology of the word Like Myself
Myself developed from the combination of the possessive form my and the noun self. Old and Middle English used related forms to emphasize identity or refer back to the subject. Modern English uses myself both reflexively, as in “I blamed myself,” and emphatically, as in “I myself checked the figures.”
Related Concepts
Understanding object pronouns and reflexive pronouns makes the difference between like me and like myself much easier to recognize.
- Object pronouns: Words such as me, him, her, and them receive the action of a verb or follow a preposition. For example, “They invited me” uses the object pronoun me.
- Reflexive pronouns: Words such as myself, yourself, and themselves refer back to the subject or add emphasis. For example, “I taught myself” means that the subject and object are the same person.
- Comparisons with like: The preposition like introduces a comparison, as in “She sings like me.” In highly formal writing, some editors may prefer “She sings as I do,” but “like me” is standard in ordinary English.
- Pronoun case: English pronouns change form according to their grammatical role. I is a subject form, me is an object form, and myself is a reflexive or emphatic form.
Examples from Media and Literature
The following examples reflect common patterns found in books, films, interviews, journalism, and everyday media language:
- Literary dialogue: A character may say, “No one knows this town like me,” using me after the comparison word like.
- Film dialogue: A speaker might say, “People like me do not get many chances,” where me means people similar to the speaker.
- News interviews: A public official may say, “Someone like myself would carefully review the proposal,” using myself as an emphatic reference to the speaker.
- Memoir writing: An author may write, “I made the decision myself,” where myself emphasizes that the author acted independently.
- Workplace communication: A professional email should say, “Please send the report to me,” rather than “Please send the report to myself.”
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.
- People who enjoy hiking, like (me/myself), often plan trips months in advance.
- I prepared the presentation (me/myself).
- The coach asked Sarah and (me/myself) to arrive early.
- Professionals like (me/myself) must continue learning new skills.
- I reminded (me/myself) to check the attachment before sending the email.
Answer Key
- me — It follows the comparison like and functions as an object pronoun.
- myself — It emphasizes that the subject I prepared the presentation.
- me — It is the object of the verb asked.
- me — It follows like in a comparison meaning professionals similar to the speaker.
- myself — It refers back to the subject I in a reflexive construction.
Like Me Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Similar to me | Having qualities or characteristics in common with the speaker |
| As I do | In the same way as the speaker does |
| Someone like me | A person with qualities or experiences similar to the speaker |
| Comparable to me | Similar to the speaker in a particular respect |
Like Myself Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| I myself | An emphatic expression referring to the speaker |
| Personally | From the speaker’s own perspective or experience |
| On my own | Without assistance from another person |
| Someone similar to me | A person who shares characteristics with the speaker |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “like me” or “like myself” correct?
Both are correct, but they have different uses. Choose like me for most ordinary comparisons and object-pronoun constructions. Choose like myself when the reflexive pronoun refers back to the subject or adds emphasis.
Question 2: Is it correct to say “people like myself”?
Yes, “people like myself” can be grammatically acceptable, especially in formal or emphatic language. However, “people like me” is generally more natural and concise in everyday English.
Question 3: Is “please contact myself” correct?
No. In standard English, write or say “please contact me.” The verb contact needs the ordinary object pronoun me; myself should not be used merely to sound formal.
Conclusion
Like me is the usual choice when expressing similarity or when me functions as an object. Like myself is appropriate for reflexive or emphatic purposes, but it should not replace me in professional writing. Pro Tip: Choosing the precise pronoun strengthens your credibility and helps maintain a polished professional reputation.
