Help with sentence readabliity

Question

Hello, I would like help in making this sentence more readable;

We are writing to you to complain about the amount of the invoice we have received from Smith and Smith for the provision of a Last Will and Testament for myself, Fred and wife, Ann.

Thanks for your time.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,
Welcome to the Forum.

We are writing to you to complain about the amount of the invoice we have received from Smith and Smith for the provision of a Last Will and Testament for myself, Fred and wife, Ann.

I am writing to complain about the amount of the invoice I have received from you for my wife and I's will..

Best wishes, Clive

OrlandoEnglishTutor · Answer

May I add another opinion?

Regarding "my wife and I's will"...to my knowledge as a native American English speaker, there is no such word as "I's." It is literally not ever spoken or written in Standard American English. The correct first person possessives must be my or mine.

Also, myself can be used only when the original subject of the sentence is "I" -- "I decided to eat it all myself." People sometimes substitute myself for me in an effort to sound more formal, but this is incorrect.

Also, it is customary to name oneself last in any series of names, though not absolutely required.

This is one of those sentences that might sound a little awkward even when it's correct! My first choice is probably:

...provision of a Last Will and Testament for my wife, Ann, and me.

(Fred will be signing the letter, right, so his name doesn't need to be here, and it does make it more awkward to use it. )

Anybody else?
--sandy
.

Anonymous · Answer

...provision of a Last Will and Testament for my wife, Ann, and me.

I believe that is all correct except for the last part.

...provision of a Last Will and Testament for my wife, Ann, and I.

I was always taught, as a native speaker also, that it's never name and me, it's always name and I.

OrlandoEnglishTutor · Answer

Edit: I fear I sounded a little snippy when I first posted this; I just was in a hurry to go eat some more Thanksgiving pie!

The I-me-myself conundrum is one that comes up a lot and is addressed in many places. Rather than write my own explanation of subject versus object, I'm going to quote a Dr. Language column from yourdictionary.com (link follows):

"Do you ever hear anyone say things like:

Mama told I to clean up my room.
They came over to watch TV with I.
The next drinks are on I.

Of course, not. In all these instances we would all say:

Mama told me to clean up my room.
They came over to watch TV with me.
The next drinks are on me.

So why do the same people, who use "me" correctly when it stands alone, say things like this when it is compounded:

Mama told you and I to clean up our rooms. (WRONG)
They come over to watch TV with Fernando and I. (WRONG)
The next drinks are on you and I. (WRONG)

WRONG	RIGHT
Sarah helped you and I.	Sarah helped you and me.
Can we keep this between you and I?	Can we keep this between you and me?
She blamed everything on you and I.	She blamed everything on you and me.
They served him before you and I.	They served him before you and me.

Keep the following mnemonic sentence in mind: "I" am the Subject but the Object is "me." There are no exceptions."

End of quote. I should get a more academic source but that's all for now. Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate it.

--Sandy
Link to page at yourdictionary.com
http://www.yourdictionary.com/library/drlang002.html
Link to similar page at oxford.com
http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutgrammar/meandi

Clive · Answer

Hi,

I am writing to complain about the amount of the invoice I have received from you for my wife and I's will..

I enjoyed reading your comments on Standard American English, triggered by my version above which is colloquial, at least where I live.

Out of curiosity, if you had to use the 'apostrophe ess' form of the phrase head-on instead of paraphrasing, what would you recommend?

Best wishes, Clive

OrlandoEnglishTutor · Answer

Thanks for asking. I must say what I would really do: recast the sentence. When in doubt, throw it out. But, feet to the fire, , I'd have to go with "my wife's and my will." I'm keep meaning to find a good reputable source for this in an actual grammar book, but I just keep eating more pie and napping!

Also...really, you and your tribe would say "I's" colloquially? This is of great interest to me. Are you in a pocket of Appalachia? Kidding, but really, it's quite unusual, I believe!
-s

OrlandoEnglishTutor · Answer

Is it a hard and fast rule of grammar board participation that as soon as you hit "Post," you notice a typo, and usually more than one? "I'm keep meaning" to proofread!
-s

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