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ESL forum > Grammar and Linguistics > Which is the correct one? or are both of them correct?    

Which is the correct one? or are both of them correct?



arquity
Uruguay

Which is the correct one? or are both of them correct?
 
"Write about you and your family"
 
 
"Write about yourself and your family"
 
Thanks!

27 Feb 2015      





douglas
United States

Good question, my first thoughts are they have two slightly different meanings:
 
1) "Write about you and your family" -- write about the group (you interacting with or as a part of the group "family"
 
2) "Write about yourself and your family"- two different topics: 1. me  . my family
 
This is just a first feeling, I �m not guaranteeing its accuracy.
 
Cheers,
Douglas

27 Feb 2015     



Carolinenjnc
United States

I completely agree with Douglas.... the use of "-self/selves" singles out the person.

27 Feb 2015     



arquity
Uruguay

I thank you both for your prompt answers. I now understand the difference.
 

27 Feb 2015     



yanogator
United States

I mildly disagree here. In a formal sense, "Write about you and your family" isn �t correct. We use the reflexive pronoun to refer  back to a person who has already appeared in the sentence. Although "you" isn �t written at the  beginning, it is understood as the subject of the imperative verb. So, formally speaking, only "Write about yourself and your family is correct".


 However, in practice, the formal "rules" are often ignored, driving English teachers crazy, so informally I agree with what Douglas said.

 
If we take it out of the second person, I think it shows its incorrectness:
 
He wrote about him and his family.
 
I �m writing about me and my family.
 
Bruce 

27 Feb 2015     



JudyHalevi
Israel

Neither are right.  Write about your family and you.
 

28 Feb 2015     



arquity
Uruguay

I had no idea this would turn into some "hot topic". You have given me much to think about.
 
My sincere thanks.

2 Mar 2015