This is another grammar rule that is often broken:

If I was versus if I were

For example:

If I were his mother, I’d never let him stay up late on a school night. CORRECT

vs.

If I was his mother, I’d never let him stay up late on a school night. INCORRECT

Why is the first choice correct? When a sentence or a clause (group of words with its own subject and verb) starts with if, and if what’s being talked about is contrary to fact, were is correct.

In the first sentence above, I’m not the child’s mother, so were is correct.

Here’s another one:

If she were President of the United States, would the economy be any better?

Were is correct, because “she” (whoever “she” is) is not the President.

Now let’s look at this one:

If I was rude, I apologize. (I may have been rude, so were wouldn’t be correct.)

And this one:

He acts as if money were the problem. (In this case, money is not the problem.)

Hope this helps. Have a great weekend!

Robin