This Is She or This Is Her: Which Is Correct?

This Is She or This Is Her: Which Is Correct? explains the grammar, usage, and context behind these two familiar English phrases in simple terms. The grammar question usually appears after someone has answered the phone and needs to identify yourself, with both phrases able to communicate the same basic idea. This Is She follows the subject form and traditional grammar rules, while This Is Her uses the object form and has become extremely common in modern spoken English.

The verb is, from be, acts as a linking verb in this construction, which explains why the traditional formal answer uses the nominative form she. Major grammar references recognize this older grammar structure in standard English, while modern English usage also accepts the broader everyday pattern. Most people may prefer the short, businesslike shorthand when speaking, but the choice can depend on tone, context, meaning, and level of formality.

The difference between subject pronouns and object pronouns still matters, especially when a caller is the subject or somebody is the object. Looking at real sentences, real-life examples, and common situations is often more useful than memorizing every grammar rule from textbooks. The quick takeaway is that This Is She remains the traditional formal form, while This Is Her is common and can sound completely natural depending on the context.

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Quick Answer:

If you’re answering a phone call and someone asks to speak with you, this is the traditional formal construction.

For example:

Caller: May I speak with Emma?
Emma: This is she.

Traditional grammar treats she as a subject complement after the linking verb is. The construction identifies this with she.

However, This is her is also widely used in modern English. In fact, modern grammar references describe object pronouns such as me, him, her, us, and them as normal complements of be in many situations. Cambridge gives examples such as That’s him and That’s her.

That means you shouldn’t assume that This is her is automatically bad English.

A useful way to remember the distinction is:

Phrase	Traditional formal grammar	Modern everyday English	Typical impression
This is she	Preferred	Correct but less common in casual speech	Formal or traditional
This is her	Traditionally questioned	Common and accepted in many contexts	Natural and conversational
This is Emma	Fully straightforward	Fully straightforward	Clear and neutral
Yes, speaking	Fully acceptable	Fully acceptable	Concise and natural

If you’re writing something formal and want to follow the traditional rule, choose This is she.

If you’re having an ordinary conversation, This is her can sound more natural. You can also avoid the issue completely by saying This is Emma or Yes, speaking.

Comparison Overview

The difference between This is she and This is her becomes much easier once you understand what the two pronouns normally do.

This Is She

She is the subject form of the third-person singular feminine pronoun.

You normally use she when the person functions as the subject of a clause:

She called yesterday.
She works here.
She answered the phone.
She knows the answer.

In the traditional analysis of This is she, she doesn’t receive an action. Instead, it identifies the subject this.

The sentence essentially connects two identities:

This = she

That’s why traditional grammar calls she a subject complement or predicate nominative in this construction. The be verb links the subject to a complement that identifies it. Merriam-Webster explains the traditional reasoning behind this construction through the idea that a linking verb connects the subject with an identifying complement.

This Is Her

Her normally serves as an object pronoun.

For example:

I called her.
We invited her.
They helped her.
The teacher spoke to her.

Modern English also uses object pronouns after be in many constructions.

For example:

That’s her.
It was him.
The person at the door is her.

Cambridge specifically notes that object pronouns can function as complements of the verb be. It also says that subject pronouns can appear in some formal contexts.

So the modern grammar picture isn’t simply:

she = correct

her = incorrect

The reality is more interesting.

The Main Difference in One Sentence

This is she follows the traditional formal approach to pronoun case after be, while This is her follows a common modern English pattern that uses object pronouns as complements.

Main Differences Between This Is She or This Is Her

The biggest difference isn’t the basic meaning. In many situations both phrases identify the same person.

The real difference involves grammar tradition, register, and natural usage.

Difference	This Is She	This Is Her
Pronoun form	Subject pronoun	Object pronoun
Traditional grammar	Preferred	Often rejected
Modern usage	Accepted	Widely used
Formal tone	Strong	Moderate to casual
Everyday speech	Less common	Very common
Meaning when answering a call	The speaker identifies herself	The speaker identifies herself
Alternative	This is [name]	This is [name]

The interesting part is that English has changed over time.

Older formal grammar placed greater emphasis on using a subject-form pronoun after a linking verb. Modern English often uses object forms in these positions. Cambridge’s current grammar guidance reflects that modern usage.

This explains why This is she can be grammatically defensible while still sounding formal or even slightly old-fashioned to many speakers.

Why Is “This Is She” Traditionally Considered Correct?

The answer lies in the verb is.

The verb is is a form of be. In this sentence it works as a linking verb rather than an action verb.

A linking verb connects the subject with information that describes or identifies it.

Consider:

Maria is the teacher.

Maria is the subject.
Is links Maria to the teacher.
The teacher identifies Maria.

Now replace the teacher with a pronoun:

Maria is she.

That sounds unnatural in ordinary English. Yet the grammatical structure illustrates the traditional principle.

The same reasoning appears in:

This is she.

Here this identifies the person being spoken about. The traditional analysis treats she as the identifying complement.

Merriam-Webster describes this as the predicate nominative approach. Under that traditional rule, the pronoun following a linking verb should take the subject form.

The Chicago Manual of Style gives the same traditional answer for the telephone situation. It explains that This is she follows the formal grammatical analysis because be links the subject with the identifying pronoun.

Why “This Is She” Can Sound Formal

There’s a funny twist here.

A phrase can follow a traditional grammar rule and still sound unusual in modern conversation.

This is she often has a polished or formal quality. Some speakers might even associate it with older telephone etiquette or highly formal speech.

That doesn’t make it wrong.

It simply means grammatical correctness and conversational naturalness aren’t always identical.

Think about phrases such as It is I. Traditional grammar supports the construction. Yet most people naturally say It’s me in everyday conversation.

The same tension appears with This is she and This is her.

Why Does “This Is Her” Sound So Natural?

Modern English doesn’t always preserve older distinctions between subject and object pronouns after linking verbs.

That’s especially clear with phrases such as:

That’s me.
That’s him.
That’s her.
It’s us.
It’s them.

Cambridge’s grammar guidance specifically recognizes object pronouns as complements after be. It gives examples such as That’s him and That’s her rather than treating those forms as inherently ungrammatical.

This matters because it shows that modern English has a broader pattern than the traditional schoolroom rule suggests.

If someone says:

That’s her.

Most English speakers don’t hear a grammatical mistake. They hear a normal sentence.

The same modern pattern helps explain why:

This is her.

can sound completely natural when someone identifies herself on a call.

Traditional Grammar vs. Modern Usage

The difference can be summarized like this:

Approach	Preferred form
Traditional formal grammar	This is she
Modern conversational English	This is her is common
Clear neutral alternative	This is [name]
Very concise phone response	Yes, speaking

Merriam-Webster makes an important point about constructions such as It is I and It is me: the choice can be a matter of style rather than a simple battle between right and wrong.

When Should You Use “This Is She”?

Choose This is she when you want to follow the traditional formal rule.

It works especially well in situations where careful grammar matters.

Formal Phone Conversations

Suppose someone calls your office and asks:

May I speak with Ms. Davis?

If you are Ms. Davis, you can answer:

This is she.

That response follows the traditional grammatical convention.

Formal or Edited Writing

You may also encounter This is she in carefully edited prose or formal dialogue.

It has a more traditional tone than This is her.

If your teacher, editor, style guide, or workplace specifically expects traditional grammar, This is she is the safer choice.

When You Want a Formal Tone

Sometimes wording affects the tone as much as the grammar.

Compare:

This is she.

with:

Yep, that’s me.

The first sounds formal. The second sounds relaxed.

Neither is automatically better in every situation.

When Should You Use “This Is Her”?

Use This is her when you want natural modern conversational English and the context clearly identifies the person.

For example:

Caller: Is Jennifer available?

Jennifer: This is her.

That response sounds ordinary to many modern English speakers.

You can also use her naturally when you’re identifying someone in another context.

For example:

This is her in the picture.

Here her has a clear object-pronoun role within the larger construction.

Another example:

That’s her standing near the entrance.

Modern English commonly uses her in this type of identification. Cambridge explicitly recognizes object pronouns as complements of be in modern English.

Is “This Is Her” Grammatically Wrong?

No. It is too simplistic to call This is her universally wrong.

The answer depends on which grammatical framework you’re applying and what the sentence means.

Under traditional prescriptive grammar, she was preferred in the specific construction where the pronoun identifies the subject after be.

Under modern English usage, object pronouns can serve as complements after be. Cambridge’s grammar guidance explicitly documents this pattern.

That distinction explains why two reputable grammar perspectives can appear to disagree.

The Chicago Manual of Style says This is she is grammatically correct in the telephone example while also acknowledging that both forms have become accepted depending on formality.

Merriam-Webster similarly explains that the choice between subject and object forms after a linking verb can be a matter of style.

So calling This is her simply “bad grammar” doesn’t accurately describe modern English.

A Better Way to Think About It

Instead of asking:

Which one is absolutely right?

Ask:

Which form fits the situation and the level of formality I want?

That question gives you a much more useful answer.

“This Is She” or “This Is Her” When Answering the Phone

The telephone example is where this question appears most often.

Imagine that someone calls and asks:

May I speak with Olivia?

If Olivia answers the phone, she has several options.

Traditional formal option

This is she.

This follows the traditional predicate-nominative approach.

Modern conversational option

This is her.

This follows a common modern pattern and sounds natural to many speakers.

Clear neutral option

This is Olivia.

This avoids the pronoun issue entirely.

Shortest option

Yes, speaking.

This is concise and leaves no room for confusion.

The best choice depends on the setting.

Situation	Good choice
Very formal phone call	This is she
Traditional business style	This is she
Normal everyday call	This is her
Casual conversation	This is her
You want zero ambiguity	This is [name]
Very concise response	Yes, speaking

Case Study: A Professional Phone Call

Imagine a receptionist calls a department manager.

Receptionist: May I speak with Ms. Carter?

Ms. Carter: This is she.

The response sounds formal and professional. It follows the traditional grammar rule.

Now imagine the same situation in a casual workplace.

Coworker: Is Mia there?

Mia: This is her.

That response sounds natural and relaxed.

The meaning hasn’t changed. The register has.

This is an important lesson in English: grammar choices can communicate more than information. They can also signal formality, age, style, and conversational setting.

Case Study: Identifying Someone in a Photo

Now consider a different sentence:

Is that Rachel in the picture?

A natural response might be:

Yes, that’s her.

Here her is entirely normal in modern English.

You wouldn’t normally respond:

Yes, that’s she.

That form sounds unnatural to most modern speakers.

This example shows why you shouldn’t apply the traditional This is she rule mechanically to every sentence containing is.

Modern English has established patterns where object pronouns follow be.

Cambridge specifically documents examples such as That’s her and notes that object pronouns are commonly used as complements of be.

Case Study: Introducing Someone

There’s another important distinction.

When you introduce a person, you normally say:

This is Sarah.

You don’t need to decide between she and her.

For example:

This is Sarah, my cousin.
This is Emily from the marketing team.
This is Jessica, the new manager.

This structure is clear because Sarah, Emily, and Jessica are nouns rather than pronouns.

That’s one reason using the person’s name can be the easiest solution when you’re unsure.

The Grammar Behind “She” and “Her”

To understand the debate fully, it helps to review pronoun case.

She Is the Subject Form

Use she when the pronoun functions as a subject.

Examples:

She called me.
She lives nearby.
She answered the question.
She sent the message.

In each example, she occupies the subject position.

Her Is the Object Form

Use her when the pronoun functions as an object or in another position that calls for the object form.

Examples:

I called her.
We invited her.
The teacher helped her.
I spoke with her.

You can also see her in possessive use:

her book
her phone
her idea

That possessive use is different from the object-pronoun use in I called her.

Why “Is” Creates Confusion

The difficulty appears because is doesn’t behave like a typical action verb.

Compare:

I called her.

The verb called describes an action directed toward her.

Now compare:

This is her.

The verb is links this and her. It doesn’t describe an action being performed on her.

Traditional grammar therefore treated the two constructions differently.

Modern English has relaxed that distinction in many situations.

Common Mistakes With “This Is She” and “This Is Her”

Understanding the rule becomes easier when you know what to avoid.

Mistake: Treating “This Is Her” as Always Wrong

Modern English does not support such a blanket rule.

Object pronouns regularly occur after be in everyday English. Cambridge explicitly documents this usage.

Mistake: Assuming “This Is She” Sounds Natural Everywhere

Although This is she follows the traditional formal rule, it can sound stiff in casual conversation.

If a friend asks whether you’re available, Yes, speaking may sound much more natural.

Mistake: Using “Her” Whenever You See a Person

Don’t assume that her always works simply because you’re referring to a woman.

For example:

She called yesterday.

not:

Her called yesterday.

Here she is clearly the subject.

Mistake: Thinking Formal Means Automatically Better

Formal grammar has its place. However, natural communication matters too.

A sentence can follow an older convention while sounding overly stiff for the situation.

Good English isn’t only about memorizing rules. It’s also about understanding context and register.

A Simple Rule for Choosing Between “She” and “Her”

When you’re unsure, start with the basic pronoun rule.

Use “She” When She Is the Subject

Examples:

She called.
She arrived.
She knows.
She answered.

Use “Her” as an Object

Examples:

I called her.
We saw her.
They invited her.
I spoke to her.

After “Be,” Check the Context

This is where the situation gets more flexible.

Traditional formal grammar favors subject forms in identifying constructions:

This is she.
It is I.
That was he.

Modern English commonly uses object forms:

This is her.
It’s me.
That’s him.

Cambridge notes that object pronouns are commonly used as complements of be while subject forms remain possible in formal contexts.

What Is the Most Natural Alternative?

If you don’t want to think about the This is she vs. This is her debate, use the person’s name.

For example:

May I speak with Anna?

This is Anna.

It’s clear. It’s polite. It works in both formal and casual settings.

You can also say:

Yes, speaking.

That option works especially well when the caller already knows who they’re trying to reach.

Other useful alternatives include:

Yes, that’s me.
You’re speaking with Anna.
Anna speaking.
Yes, this is Anna.

These alternatives can make the conversation sound more natural without sacrificing clarity.

“This Is She” or “This Is Her”: Examples

Here are practical examples that show how the two forms work.

Formal Phone Call

Caller: May I speak with Ms. Wilson?

Ms. Wilson: This is she.

This is the traditional formal answer.

Casual Phone Call

Caller: Is Megan there?

Megan: This is her.

This sounds natural in everyday speech.

Neutral Phone Call

Caller: Is Daniel available?

Daniel: This is Daniel.

This removes the pronoun question altogether.

Short Response

Caller: May I speak with Lily?

Lily: Yes, speaking.

This is brief and clear.

Identifying Someone in a Photo

Who is that in the photo?

That’s her.

This is a standard modern construction.

Identifying Someone Nearby

Is that Rachel over there?

Yes, that’s her.

Again, her works naturally in modern English.

Is “This Is She” More Formal Than “This Is Her”?

Generally, yes.

This is she has a distinctly traditional or formal feel.

This is her tends to sound more conversational.

That doesn’t mean every speaker will perceive the difference in exactly the same way. Language varies across generations, regions, professions, and individual speaking habits.

Still, the broad pattern is easy to recognize.

Expression	General tone
This is she	Formal, traditional
This is her	Conversational, modern
This is [name]	Neutral
Yes, speaking	Concise, professional

If you’re writing for a formal audience and want to honor traditional grammar, This is she is a safe choice.

If you’re speaking naturally with friends, family, or coworkers, This is her may feel more comfortable.

What About “It Is I” and “It Is Me”?

This is she or This is her question belongs to a larger family of English grammar debates.

Consider:

It is I.

versus:

It’s me.

Traditional grammar favors It is I because I is the subject form.

Yet It’s me is extremely common in modern English.

Merriam-Webster discusses this exact issue and notes that both forms have long histories in English. It describes the choice as a matter of style rather than presenting everyday It is me as something speakers simply cannot use.

This comparison helps explain why This is her doesn’t sound strange to modern speakers.

English has gradually favored natural conversational patterns in many cases where older formal grammar preferred subject pronouns.

Which One Should You Use?

There’s no need to overthink the choice.

Use this practical guide:

Choose “This Is She” If:

You’re following traditional formal grammar.
You’re answering a formal business call.
Your workplace prefers traditional language.
You’re writing dialogue where a formal tone fits.
You specifically want the traditional predicate-nominative construction.

Choose “This Is Her” If:

You’re speaking casually.
You want a natural conversational tone.
You’re using modern everyday English.
The context clearly identifies the person.
You naturally use object pronouns after be.

Choose “This Is [Name]” If:

You want the clearest possible wording.
You’re unsure which pronoun to use.
You’re speaking in a professional setting.
You want to avoid sounding either overly formal or overly casual.

Final Verdict: This Is She or This Is Her?

So, This is she or this is her?

The traditional formal answer is This is she.

That construction treats she as a subject complement following the linking verb is. The Chicago Manual of Style supports this traditional analysis for the telephone example.

However, modern English doesn’t follow that traditional rule rigidly in every situation.

This is common in everyday speech. Modern grammar references recognize object pronouns as complements after be. Cambridge specifically gives examples such as That’s her and That’s him.

Therefore, the best answer isn’t simply that one phrase is right and the other is wrong.

This is the traditional formal choice.

This is her natural modern choice in many conversational contexts.

If you want to avoid the issue completely, say This is [name] or Yes, speaking.

The important thing is understanding the difference between traditional grammatical convention and actual modern usage. Once you understand that distinction, the question becomes much easier to answer.

FAQs:

1. Is “This Is She” grammatically correct?

Yes. “This Is She” is traditionally considered grammatically correct, especially in formal English.

2. Is “This Is Her” grammatically correct?

Yes. “This Is Her” is extremely common in modern spoken English and is natural in many everyday contexts.

3. Should I say “This Is She” when answering the phone?

You can use “This Is She” when you want a traditional or more formal style. “This Is Her” is also widely used in everyday speech.

4. What is the difference between “she” and “her”?

She is a subject pronoun, while her is an object pronoun. This difference explains the traditional grammar behind the two expressions.

5. Which phrase is more common in everyday English?

“This Is Her” is commonly heard in modern spoken English, particularly in casual conversations and informal situations.

Conclusion:

Both “This Is She” and “This Is Her” are used in English, but they reflect different usage patterns.

“This Is She” follows the traditional formal grammar pattern, while “This Is Her” is very common in modern spoken and everyday English. Your choice can depend on the context, tone, and level of formality.