English has a funny way of turning a tiny sentence into a full-blown grammar puzzle. You answer the phone, someone asks for you and suddenly your brain freezes: this is she or this is her? You know exactly who you are, yet two little pronouns start an unexpected argument in your head. The confusion comes from the difference between traditional grammar and modern everyday English. Many people assume that one form must be completely correct while the other must be wrong. However, the real answer is more interesting. Both expressions appear in English, but they differ in grammatical tradition, formality and common usage, especially when you answer a phone call.
This Is She or This Is Her at a Glance
The difference becomes easier to understand when you compare the two expressions directly.
| Expression | Traditional grammar | Modern usage | Typical tone |
| This is she | Correct | Accepted | Formal or traditional |
| This is her | Traditionally questioned | Commonly accepted | Conversational |
| This is Sarah | Correct | Common | Neutral |
| Speaking | Correct | Common | Brief and natural |
| That’s me | Correct | Common | Casual |
Therefore, if someone asks, “Which is correct: this is she or this is her?”, the answer requires more than choosing one expression and labeling the other wrong.
Traditional grammar supports “This is she.” At the same time, modern English uses “This is her” frequently, especially in conversation.
Is “This Is She” Correct Grammar?
Yes. “This is she” is grammatically correct under the traditional analysis of English pronoun case.
The key lies in the verb “is.” In this sentence, “is” functions as a linking verb, also called a copular verb. Instead of expressing an action, it connects the subject with a complement.
Consider:
This is she.
Here, “this” acts as the subject. The word “she” identifies the person represented by “this.” Traditional grammar therefore treats “she” as a subject complement or predicate nominative.
Because traditional grammar expects a nominative pronoun in this position, it uses she rather than her.
The same principle appears in older formal constructions such as:
It is I.
This is he.
That was she.
These sentences follow the traditional distinction between subject and object pronouns.
However, modern English has developed more flexible patterns. As a result, many speakers now prefer object forms such as “me,” “him,” and “her” in similar constructions.
Is “This Is Her” Correct Grammar?
Yes. “This is her” occurs naturally in modern English, particularly in spoken and conversational contexts.
Traditional grammar often treats “her” as an objective pronoun and therefore prefers “she” after the linking verb “is.” However, modern English does not always maintain that strict distinction after the verb be.
For example:
“Is Maria available?”
“Yes, this is her.”
Most English speakers understand the response immediately. More importantly, the expression sounds natural to many people in everyday conversation.
Modern grammar references also recognize this broader usage. Personal object pronouns can occur as complements of be, as in expressions such as “That’s him” and “It’s her.”
Consequently, “this is her” should not automatically be treated as incorrect English.
Instead, it represents a common modern usage pattern.
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Why “This Is She” Is Traditionally Correct
To understand “this is she grammar,” you first need to understand pronoun case.
English personal pronouns change form according to their grammatical role.
| Subject or nominative form | Object or objective form |
| I | me |
| he | him |
| she | her |
| we | us |
| they | them |
| you | you |
| it | it |
For example:
She called me.
Here, she performs the action, so it acts as the subject. Meanwhile, me receives the action, so it functions as the object.
Now consider:
This is she.
The verb “is” does not describe an action performed by “this.” Instead, it connects “this” with “she.” Traditional grammar therefore describes “she” as a predicate nominative.
That analysis leads to:
This is she.
rather than:
This is her.
This same traditional rule explains why formal English once strongly preferred “It is I” instead of the much more conversational “It is me.”
Why “This Is Her” Sounds Natural
Grammar rules do not exist separately from the way people actually speak.
Over time, English speakers have increasingly used object pronouns after be. Therefore, expressions such as these sound perfectly ordinary:
That’s him.
It’s her.
That’s me.
This is her.
As a result, “this is her” feels natural to many speakers even though traditional grammar preferred the nominative form.
This difference highlights an important distinction between traditional grammatical rules and modern usage.
A sentence can follow a traditional rule and still sound formal. Likewise, a construction can differ from an older prescriptive rule while remaining common and accepted in contemporary English.
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This Is She or This Is Her When Answering the Phone?
Phone conversations provide the clearest example of this difference.
Imagine that someone calls and asks:
“May I speak with Sarah?”
Sarah answers.
She could say:
“This is she.”
That response follows the traditional grammar pattern. Therefore, it works especially well in formal or traditional English.
She could also say:
“This is her.”
That response reflects common conversational usage. Consequently, it often sounds more natural in everyday speech.
There is also a third option:
“This is Sarah.”
This version avoids the pronoun question entirely. Moreover, it sounds clear and natural in both professional and casual conversations.
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This Is She on a Formal Phone Call
Suppose a client calls an office and asks:
“May I speak with Ms. Davis?”
Ms. Davis answers:
“This is she.”
The response has a formal tone. Therefore, it can fit a professional setting, particularly when the speaker prefers traditional grammar.
However, some modern speakers may find the expression slightly stiff.
This Is Her on a Casual Phone Call
Now imagine a friend calling and asking:
“Can I speak to Emma?”
Emma responds:
“This is her.”
The response sounds natural and conversational.
Although traditional grammar may prefer “This is she,” modern spoken English commonly uses “her” in this position.
This Is [Name] as a Neutral Choice
If you want to avoid the entire “this is she or this is her” issue, simply identify yourself by name.
For example:
“This is Emma.”
This response is short, clear and suitable for almost any context.
This Is She or This Is Her Meaning
The two expressions generally communicate the same basic meaning when someone uses them to identify themselves on a phone call.
“This is she” means that the woman the caller requested is the person speaking.
“This is her” communicates essentially the same message.
For example:
Caller: “May I speak with Jennifer?”
Jennifer: “This is she.”
The speaker confirms that she is Jennifer.
Likewise:
Caller: “May I speak with Jennifer?”
Jennifer: “This is her.”
Again, the speaker confirms her identity.
Therefore, the main difference involves grammar, pronoun form, register and usage, not the basic meaning.
The Role of the Linking Verb “Is”
The verb “is” plays an important role in this grammar question.
“Is” comes from the verb be. In this construction, it works as a linking verb or copular verb.
A linking verb connects the subject with information that identifies or describes it.
For example:
Sarah is a teacher.
The verb “is” connects “Sarah” with “a teacher.”
Similarly:
This is Sarah.
The verb connects “this” with “Sarah.”
Traditional grammar applies the same basic structure to:
This is she.
Under that analysis, “she” functions as a subject complement.
However, modern English allows greater flexibility with pronoun forms in complement positions. That flexibility explains why speakers also use:
This is her.
Therefore, simply memorizing the rule “always use a subject pronoun after is” does not accurately describe modern English.
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Subject Pronoun or Object Pronoun
The distinction between she and her becomes clearer when you examine their ordinary grammatical roles.
Use she as a subject:
- She called me.
- She works here.
- She answered the phone.
Use her as an object:
I called her.
I spoke with her.
We invited her.
However, the situation changes after the verb be.
Modern English commonly uses object pronouns as complements:
It’s me.
That’s him.
It’s her.
This is her.
Therefore, the traditional rule and modern usage do not always produce the same sentence.
Traditional Grammar and Modern English
The difference between “this is she” and “this is her” illustrates a broader change in English pronoun usage.
Traditional grammar places greater emphasis on grammatical case. Consequently, it favors nominative forms such as “she” and “he” when a pronoun identifies the subject.
Modern spoken English, however, often uses objective forms such as “her” and “him” after be.
That doesn’t mean modern speakers have stopped understanding subject and object pronouns. Instead, English has developed a more flexible pattern for certain complement structures.
As a result, both expressions can appear in real English, although they do not carry exactly the same stylistic feel.
Why Does “This Is She” Sound Formal?
The expression sounds formal mainly because modern conversation favors different constructions.
People frequently hear:
It’s me.
That’s him.
It’s her.
That’s us.
Because these patterns occur so often, a phrase such as “This is she” can stand out.
It may sound careful, formal, traditional or even slightly old-fashioned depending on the speaker and situation.
Nevertheless, that does not make it incorrect.
For example, someone might use “This is she” during a professional call because they prefer formal English. Another speaker might choose “This is her” during the same conversation because it feels more natural.
Both speakers can communicate the same message successfully.
Is “This Is She” Old-Fashioned?
It can sound old-fashioned to some speakers, but “this is she” is not obsolete.
The expression remains understandable and grammatically accepted under traditional grammar.
However, language changes. As conversational English has increasingly favored objective pronoun forms after be, “this is she” has become less common in casual speech.
Therefore, it is more accurate to describe the expression as formal or traditional rather than simply calling it outdated.
This Is He or This Is Him
The same grammatical issue appears with “this is he” and “this is him.”
Traditional grammar favors:
This is he.
Modern conversational English commonly uses:
This is him.
For example:
Caller: “May I speak with David?”
David: “This is him.”
That response sounds natural to many speakers.
Alternatively:
Caller: “May I speak with David?”
David: “This is he.”
The second response follows the traditional nominative pattern, although it sounds more formal to many modern speakers.
Therefore, the he/him comparison provides a useful parallel for understanding she/her.
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This Is She or This Is Her in Everyday English
When you speak casually, you don’t need to force a highly formal construction into the conversation.
For example:
“Hey, is Anna there?”
“This is her.”
The response sounds natural.
You can also say:
“Speaking.”
Or:
“Yes, this is Anna.”
Each option works, although the tone differs slightly.
“Speaking” is particularly useful when the caller already knows whom they want to reach.
For example:
Caller: “Is Mr. Brown available?”
Mr. Brown: “Speaking.”
This short answer sounds confident and natural without raising a pronoun question.
Formal or Informal Pronoun Usage
Context often determines which expression feels appropriate.
| Situation | Suitable response |
| Traditional formal call | “This is she.” |
| Professional conversation | “This is Sarah.” |
| Casual phone call | “This is her.” |
| Everyday conversation | “This is her.” |
| Short phone response | “Speaking.” |
| Casual identity confirmation | “That’s me.” |
| Clear professional identification | “Yes, you’re speaking to Sarah.” |
These examples do not create absolute rules. Instead, they show how pronoun choice and register interact.
For instance, you can use “this is her” during a professional call. Likewise, you can use “this is she” in an informal conversation.
The difference mainly concerns the tone and grammatical tradition behind the expression.
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Common Mistakes With This Is She and This Is Her
Several misconceptions make this topic more confusing than it needs to be.
Saying “This Is Her” Is Always Wrong
This claim ignores modern English usage.
Object pronouns can function as complements after be and speakers commonly use them in expressions such as “That’s him” and “This is her.”
Therefore, “this is her” is not automatically incorrect English.
Saying “This Is She” Is Wrong
This claim creates the opposite problem.
Traditional grammar provides a clear grammatical explanation for “this is she.” The pronoun “she” functions as a subject complement in the traditional analysis.
Therefore, “this is she” remains a valid grammatical construction.
Assuming Linking Verbs Always Require Subject Pronouns
This simplified rule does not fully describe modern English.
Traditional grammar strongly favors nominative forms in these constructions. However, modern English frequently uses objective forms after be.
Therefore, context and usage matter.
Ignoring Register
A phrase can be grammatically acceptable while sounding unusual in a particular situation.
For example, “This is she” may sound formal during a casual conversation. Meanwhile, “This is her” may sound more conversational.
Consequently, good English requires more than memorizing isolated grammar rules.
A Practical Way to Choose
If you’re unsure what to say, use the context as your guide.
For traditional or formal English, choose:
“This is she.”
For everyday conversational English, you can say:
“This is her.”
For a neutral option, say:
“This is Sarah.”
For a brief phone response, say:
“Speaking.”
This approach gives you several natural choices without forcing every situation into one grammar rule.
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Examples of This Is She and This Is Her
Formal Example
Caller: “May I speak with Ms. Johnson?”
Johnson: “This is she.”
The response follows traditional grammar and creates a formal tone.
Conversational Example
Caller: “Can I speak to Laura?”
Laura: “This is her.”
The response sounds natural in everyday spoken English.
Neutral Example
Caller: “Is Laura available?”
Laura: “Yes, this is Laura.”
This option works comfortably in both professional and personal situations.
Short Response
Caller: “Is John there?”
John: “Speaking.”
This answer is concise and immediately identifies the speaker.
Case Study: A Professional Phone Call
Imagine that a customer calls a company and asks for the sales manager.
Caller: “May I speak with Ms. Carter?”
Ms. Carter: “This is she.”
The response sounds formal and follows traditional pronoun usage.
Now consider:
Caller: “May I speak with Ms. Carter?”
Ms. Carter: “This is her.”
The meaning remains clear. Moreover, the response reflects common modern conversational usage.
Finally:
Caller: “May I speak with Ms. Carter?”
Ms. Carter: “Yes, this is Ms. Carter.”
This version provides the clearest identification and avoids the pronoun issue entirely.
Case Study: A Personal Phone Call
Now imagine that a friend calls and asks:
“Is Sarah there?”
Sarah answers:
“This is her.”
The response sounds natural and informal.
If Sarah says:
“This is she.”
the sentence still follows the traditional grammar pattern. However, the wording may sound more formal than the situation requires.
Therefore, the same grammatical construction can create a different impression depending on the context.
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Natural Alternatives to This Is She or This Is Her
You don’t always need to choose between the two expressions.
Several alternatives can make your speech clearer.
“This is Sarah.”
This is probably the easiest neutral alternative. It works in both professional and casual conversations.
Speaking
“Speaking.”
This concise response works particularly well when the caller has already asked for you by name.
Yes, You’re Speaking to [Name]
“Yes, you’re speaking to Sarah.”
This version clearly identifies the speaker and works well in professional conversations.
That’s Me
“Yes, that’s me.”
This expression sounds natural in casual conversation.
For example:
“Is this David?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
The phrase doesn’t create the same pronoun-case question because “me” appears in a common conversational construction.
What Does “This Is She” Mean?
“This is she” means that the female person the caller requested is speaking.
For example:
“May I speak with Rachel?”
“This is she.”
Rachel confirms that she is the person on the line.
The expression doesn’t have a special meaning beyond identification. Its distinctive feature comes from its traditional grammatical structure.
What Does “This Is Her” Mean?
“This is her” communicates essentially the same identification.
For example:
“Is Rachel there?”
“Yes, this is her.”
The speaker confirms that she is Rachel.
Therefore, the primary difference between the two expressions concerns pronoun form and usage, not meaning.
Why People Say “This Is Her” Instead of “This Is She”
People often choose “this is her” because it matches the way modern English handles similar constructions.
English speakers regularly say:
It’s me.
That’s him.
It’s her.
Consequently, “this is her” fits a familiar conversational pattern.
In addition, speakers generally prioritize natural communication over strict adherence to traditional prescriptive rules during everyday conversation.
That doesn’t erase the traditional form. Instead, it means that modern English gives speakers more than one accepted way to construct the response.
Can You Use “Her” After a Linking Verb?
Yes, in modern English, object pronouns can occur after the verb be when they function as complements.
For example:
That’s him.
It’s her.
This is me.
This is her.
Traditional grammar may prefer nominative forms in some of these constructions. However, actual modern usage demonstrates much greater flexibility.
Therefore, the simple statement “you can never use her after a linking verb” does not accurately represent contemporary English.
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This Is She or This Is Her: The Main Grammar Rule
If you need the traditional rule, remember the following:
When a pronoun identifies the subject after a linking verb such as “be,” traditional grammar favors the nominative form.
That gives us:
This is she.
However, modern English frequently uses objective forms in these complement positions:
This is her.
Therefore, the traditional rule explains why “this is she” is correct, while modern usage explains why “this is her” is also common and accepted.
Understanding both sides provides a more accurate picture than simply memorizing one form.
This Is She or This Is Her: Final Comparison
| Feature | This is she | This is her |
| Traditional grammar | Accepted | Traditionally questioned |
| Modern English | Accepted | Commonly accepted |
| Pronoun form | Nominative | Objective |
| Grammatical analysis | Subject complement | Modern complement usage |
| Typical tone | Formal or traditional | Conversational |
| Phone use | Correct | Common |
| Everyday speech | Less common for many speakers | Very common |
| Meaning | Identifies the female speaker | Identifies the female speaker |
| Neutral alternative | This is Sarah | This is Sarah |
The comparison shows why neither expression deserves a simplistic “right” or “wrong” label.
Which Is Correct: This Is She or This Is Her?
- If you follow traditional grammar, use “This is she.”
- If you’re speaking modern conversational English, “This is her” is common and natural.
- If you want to sound neutral and clear, use:
“This is Sarah.”
So, the best choice depends on your purpose.
For a formal or traditional context, “This is she” fits the conventional grammar rule. On the other hand, for ordinary conversation, “This is her” often sounds more natural.
Most importantly, don’t assume that one expression automatically makes the other incorrect. English usage has changed over time and modern speakers use both forms.
Practice Session
Fill in each blank with the correct word.
Fill in the blanks
- In traditional grammar, the preferred response is “This is ______.
- ”In everyday conversational English, many speakers say “This is ______.
- ”When someone asks for Sarah on the phone, she can identify herself by saying, “This is ______.”
- Traditional grammar generally prefers “This is ______” when identifying a female speaker.
- In everyday conversational English, many speakers naturally say “This is ______.”
- “This is Sarah” is a useful alternative when you want to avoid the ______ versus ______ question.
- In the sentence “She is here,” the word “she” functions as a ______ pronoun.
- In the sentence “I spoke to her,” the word “her” functions as an ______ pronoun.
- The verb “is” in “This is she” functions as a ______ verb.
- “This is she” and “This is her” generally have the same ______ in a phone conversation.
- The traditional grammatical form is “This is ______.”
- Modern conversational English commonly uses “This is ______.”
- “This is he” follows the same traditional pattern as “This is ______.”
- “This is him” follows the same conversational pattern as “This is ______.”
- If a caller asks for Emma, Emma can traditionally answer, “This is ______.”
- If a caller asks for Emma, she can also respond naturally, “This is ______.”
- The pronoun “she” belongs to the ______ case in traditional grammatical analysis.
- The pronoun “her” belongs to the ______ case when it functions as an object.
- “This is [name]” is a ______ and neutral way to identify yourself on the phone.
- “This is she” can sound more ______ or traditional than “This is her.”
- “This is her” is especially common in ______ English.
- The word “her” can function as both an object pronoun and a ______ determiner.
- “May I speak to Maria?” — “Speaking” is another natural way to ______ that you are Maria.
- “That is she” and “That is her” show the same traditional-versus-modern ______ found in “This is she” and “This is her.”
- When answering a professional phone call, “This is [your name]” can help you sound clear and avoid unnecessary ______ confusion.
Answer Session
- she
- her
- Sarah
- she
- her
- she, her
- subject
- object
- linking
- meaning
- she
- her
- this is him
- this is her
- she
- her
- nominative
- objective
- clear
- formal
- conversational
- possessive
- confirm
- distinction
- pronoun
Frequently Asked Question About “This Is She” or “This Is Her”
Is “This Is She” grammatically correct?
Yes. “This is she” follows the traditional grammar rule that uses a subject pronoun after the linking verb “is.” It commonly appears in formal or traditional English, especially when identifying yourself on the phone.
Is “This Is Her” grammatically correct?
Yes. “This is her” is common in modern conversational English. Although traditional grammar preferred “she” in this structure, modern English widely uses object pronouns such as “her” after the verb “be.”
What does “This Is She” mean?
“This is she” means “I am the woman you asked to speak to.” For example, if someone asks, “May I speak with Sarah?” Sarah can traditionally respond, “This is she.”
What does “This Is Her” mean?
“This is her” also means that the speaker is the woman the caller requested. The main difference lies in grammatical tradition and usage rather than meaning.
Why do people say “This Is She” when answering the phone?
People say “this is she” because traditional grammar treats “she” as a subject complement following the linking verb “is.” The expression has a long history in formal English and telephone etiquette.
Which sounds more natural: “This Is She” or “This Is Her”?
“This is her” often sounds more natural in everyday conversation, while “this is she” can sound more formal or traditional. Your choice can depend on the context, audience, and level of formality.
Can I say “This Is [Name]” instead?
Yes. “This is [name]” is a clear and natural alternative that avoids the she-versus-her grammar question. For example, you can simply say, “This is Sarah,” when answering a call.
What is the difference between “This Is She” and “This Is Her”?
Both expressions identify the same person, but they reflect different approaches to pronoun usage. “This is she” follows the traditional subject-pronoun rule, whereas “this is her” reflects common modern conversational usage.
Is “This Is He” or “This Is Him” correct?
The same distinction applies to “this is he” and “this is him.” Traditional grammar favors “this is he,” while “this is him” commonly appears in everyday English. Both can identify a male speaker who answers a phone call.
What should I say when someone asks for me on the phone?
You can say “This is she,” “This is her,” or simply “This is [your name].” In everyday conversation, “This is [your name]” provides the clearest and most neutral response.
Conclusion
The “this is she or this is her” debate proves that English grammar can turn a simple phone call into a tiny courtroom drama. Traditional grammar favors “this is she” because it treats “she” as a subject complement after the linking verb “is.” However, “this is her” has become common in modern conversational English, where speakers naturally use the object form after “be.”
So, which should you use? In formal or traditional writing and speech, “this is she” follows the older grammatical rule. In everyday conversation, “this is her” sounds natural to many English speakers. If you want to avoid the grammar debate completely, simply say “This is Sarah”.
In other words, you don’t need to panic when the phone rings. Your grammar test can wait until after you say hello!
Ethan AJS is an experienced blogger and language enthusiast at Words Overview, dedicated to making English easier to understand and use. He writes about grammar, vocabulary, spelling, word meanings and commonly confused words, turning tricky language questions into clear, practical insights. With a passion for effective communication, Ethan creates engaging, readerfocused content that helps readers write accurately, choose the right words and communicate with confidence.
