

Sign up
Here's how it works:
  1. Anybody can ask a question
  2. Anybody can answer

If you are talking on behalf of you and someone else what is the correct usage?

On behalf of my wife and me

On behalf of my wife and I

On behalf of me and my wife

On behalf of myself and my wife

On behalf of my wife and myself


My understanding is that after that phrase you would carry on talking in first person.

share|improve this question
See also "It's me" or "It's I". – kiamlaluno Jan 30 '11 at 18:05

Webster's 3rd New International Dictionary says behalf is "used with in or on and with a possessive noun or pronoun." That means "behalf" is always the target of a possessive. The object in each case is the object of the preposition in or on, which means you would use the prepositional case for pronouns (you would never say "On behalf of my wife and I"). You would also use "myself" as the target.

If you were talking about your wife ("On behalf of my wife and myself"), you would continue on in the first person plural: "On behalf of my wife and myself, we would like to thank ..."

share|improve this answer
He would want to continue in the first person singular, right? – Potatoswatter Jan 31 '11 at 4:56

The answer to your question is NO!

On behalf of somebody and also in behalf of somebody (American English) are used in two meanings:

a) instead of someone, or as their representative:

On behalf of everyone here, may I wish you a very happy retirement.

b) because of or for someone:

Oh, don’t go to any trouble on my behalf.

share|improve this answer
The "in" is not used in the construction "in behalf of" — not that I'm aware of, anyway. It's used in sentences like "He will act in your behalf." – Robusto Jan 30 '11 at 21:56
I checked the Longman Contemporary Dictionary to make sure if I am right. But I agree that it's not used much, and that's why I didn't make it bold. – Manoochehr Jan 31 '11 at 7:33
How is this answering the OP’s question? – qdii Jun 7 '12 at 18:32

Since that's a prepositional clause "of pronoun" and reflexive, you want "On behalf of my wife and myself, I express our extreme displeasure."

You shouldn't just go on talking in the first person, though. I think it only makes sense to state that you are saying something. "On behalf of my wife and myself, I'm going now." — doesn't make sense.

As a matter of style, it might be better to simply use the first person plural. "My wife and I cordially invite you to a ditch digging ceremony." You can speak on your wife's behalf without specifically using the word "behalf."

share|improve this answer

On behalf of my wife and I

, I wish you a very Merry Christmas.

But with greater clarity and less stuffiness and pretension as

My wife and I wish you ...

"on behalf of" would have a place in a some situtations

On behalf of all the employees I would like to award you with this gold watch in recognition of your local service.

share|improve this answer

protected by RegDwigнt Jan 4 '12 at 12:49


Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?
