25a Use the subjective case (I, you, he, she, it, we, they) for subjects and subject complements.

When personal pronouns are used as subjects, ordinarily your ear will tell you the correct pronoun. Problems sometimes arise, however, with compound word groups containing a pronoun, so it is not always safe to trust your ear.

The example reads,

Joel ran away because his stepfather and (strikethrough) him (end strikethrough) (insert) he (end insert) had argued.

A text below reads, (Italics) His stepfather and he (End Italics) is the subject of the verb (Italics) had argued (End Italics). If we strip away the words (Italics) his stepfather and (End Italics), the correct pronoun becomes clear: (Italics) he had argued (End Italics) (not (Italics) him had argued (End Italics)).

When a pronoun is used as a subject complement (a word following a linking verb), your ear may mislead you, since the incorrect form is frequently heard in casual speech.

The example reads,

During the trial, the defendant repeatedly denied that the kidnapper

was (strikethrough) him period (end strikethrough) (insert) he period (end insert).

Text below reads, If (Italics) kidnapper was he (End Italics) seems awkward, rewrite the sentence: (Italics) During the trial (End Italics), the defendant (Italics) repeatedly denied that he was the kidnapper (End Italics).