Grammar Puzzles Solved (15): Is it correct to say “He is better than me” or “He is better than I”?

by ndxx5 · Published April 5, 2025 · Updated May 25, 2025

✅ The grammatically correct version is: He is better than I.

However, He is better than me is extremely common in casual English and often accepted in informal conversation.

Let’s understand the rule. The word “than” can function as a conjunction, meaning it joins two clauses. In the sentence “He is better than I,” the full version is: “He is better than I am.” The verb “am” is implied but understood. That’s why the subject pronoun “I” is grammatically correct. On the other hand, “me” is an object pronoun, and using it after a conjunction like “than” creates an error if a verb is implied afterward.

Let’s look at more examples:

✅ She is taller than I (am).

✅ They are richer than we (are).

❌ She is taller than me (incorrect in formal grammar).

But in modern, spoken English, “than me” is so widespread that it’s accepted in everyday use. Still, for formal writing—exams, academic papers, job applications—it’s best to use the standard form: “than I.”

You may also like...

Leave a Reply Cancel reply