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When Austin Powers says this phrase? Is it considered to be somewhat of an exception to normal use, like with,

Myself is often used where I or me might be expected,

Or was it more abnormal than that, and was just a joke? I'm not sure of other instances where it's used commonly in a similar manner.

  • Have you looked at other questions on the topic such as this or this or done any other research beyond consulting a dictionary (which isn't a good source for grammar, compared to a grammar book)? – Stuart F Sep 12 '23 at 11:24
  • I know they are reflexive, but as the dictionary points out, there are common exceptions. –  Sep 12 '23 at 11:26
  • Both the links you provide lead to the dictionary. No, it is not 'fine' - see this question. Only you can 'allow yourself' to do something. – Kate Bunting Sep 12 '23 at 11:43
  • I'm not clear on what you're saying. Are you saying the common "allow me to introduce myself" is wrong? If you have an answer, can make an answer. –  Sep 12 '23 at 12:47
  • It's an answer and disallowed? What are you saying? It's a question about exceptions, not first time learners. –  Sep 12 '23 at 13:15
  • We are not supposed to 'answer' the question in a comment - but this is an English learner's question, so it should be migrated to English Language Learners and answered there. (No, I'm not saying that Allow me to introduce myself is wrong!!) – Kate Bunting Sep 12 '23 at 14:12
  • I know, and yet people are answering in comments. The question is whether it falls under the exception or not. If you say it's not fine, then that may conflict with the definition given, unless you have a reason it doesn't. It's not clear what you're saying, you said it's not fine, then you said "Only you can 'allow yourself' to do something." so it sounds like you say it is ok. –  Sep 12 '23 at 14:19
  • This isn't about learning how to learn how to use myself, it's whether a definition fits. –  Sep 12 '23 at 14:20
  • Or you meant only 'you' can 'allow yourself'. Should be clear with quotations. –  Sep 12 '23 at 14:29
  • But yeah, if you say it's not fine, then the answer would explain why the definition does not fit in this scenario. The thing is, if people understand it, it works, even if it sounds funny. But then there is the question if this falls under normal and adnormal exceptions to it just being reflexive. –  Sep 12 '23 at 14:30
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    Austin Powers had a number of language quirks. Misuse of language is a common trope of characters trying to sound high-class. – Barmar Sep 12 '23 at 17:05
  • Please rewrite this question so it is clear what you want. Does "commonly accepted grammatical error" mean something that many people don't think is an error (i.e. it's accepted as valid), or something that most people accept is an error? What is "did it just sound funny?" supposed to mean? Are you asking if it's a joke, if it's a funny joke, or if it sounds weird, odd, or abnormal? Clarify the question by editing it not by adding 20 or 30 comments. – Stuart F Sep 12 '23 at 19:06

1 Answers1

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OK, since the moderators haven't migrated this, I'll risk incurring criticism and answer it.

He should have said "Allow me to introduce myself."

It doesn't make sense to ask another person to allow 'yourself' to do something - only you can allow yourself or, to put it another way, only I can allow myself.

Presumably the joke is that Austin Powers is supposedly a suave English gentleman, but here he uses bad English.

Kate Bunting
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  • So you don't think it fits under the definition in the question, used where 'I' or 'me' is expected? –  Sep 12 '23 at 16:31
  • Note that M-W says "Critics have frowned on these uses since about the turn of the century". Opinions differ as to how acceptable it is to use myself instead of me in sentences like Please return the completed forms to myself. See the first 'Linked' question in the right-hand column. But I don't think many people would consider Austin's line to be good English. – Kate Bunting Sep 12 '23 at 16:43
  • Ok that's question I had, sounds like it's a matter of opinion. To be clear, I was asking if it fits with the normal usage that critics have frowned on, or not. It sounds like they would call it bad English whether it was normal or not. –  Sep 12 '23 at 16:47
  • See also this one – Kate Bunting Sep 12 '23 at 16:50
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    The joke is that Powers is a high-toned buffoon, not regal, elegant, or proper. His script is filled with such malapropisms. – Yosef Baskin Sep 12 '23 at 22:13
  • If he's speaking to someone politely, they would be allowing him, and the mainstream usage is "Allow me to introduce myself". Anything other than me there is well outside the main channel, which is not to say "frowned upon". – TimR Sep 12 '23 at 23:26