I think that some of us are forgetting that every English word or phrase can be used as the subject of a sentence. Subjects of sentences are pronouns nouns, or nominal phrases (including noun clauses). Best is not a pronoun [a closed class that can lose members but that has not gained any since 'it.']; one word does not make a phrase; therefore 'best' is a noun in "The best is yet to be, the last of life for which the first is made." I sense awkwardness in writing "This is my father's and my address." I would say "This address is mine and my father's," even though we are taught to put third person before second and second before first. Actually, I had more problems in the verb usage and sequence of tenses in the question. For me, writing correct English is an email requires far more attention than in a letter and I am far less likely to catch my errors--a good reason for always printing out my emails at work before sending them. Scott To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/