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Sarnga1157 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Were/was

What is the difference between

If I were you
If I was you

From what I have learnt, were is more formally used, whereas was is used only in speech. Is it the case?

Thanks,
Prasanna
  

Top answer

sarnga1157 were is more formally used, whereas was is used only in speech. Where I live it's a standard phrase, "If I were you". Hardly anybody I know uses "If I was you", possibly because it sounds less educated.

— CalifJim

  • sarnga1157 were is more formally used, whereas was is used only in speech.
  • Where I live it's a standard phrase, "If I were you".
  • Hardly anybody I know uses "If I was you", possibly because it sounds less educated.
  • It has nothing to do with whether it's written or spoken.
  • CJ
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2 Answers
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sarnga1157were is more formally used, whereas was is used only in speech.
Where I live it's a standard phrase, "If I were you". Hardly anybody I know uses "If I was you", possibly because it sounds less educated. It has nothing to do with whether it's written or spoken.

CJ
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Were is the right way to say it. People write more carefully than they speak.
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