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This article is from the alt.usage.english FAQ, by Mark Israel misrael@scripps.edu with numerous contributions by others.

43 "if I was" vs "if I were" (Usage disputes - alt.usage.english)

See under "Subjunctive" below. The following pair of
sentences shows the traditional and useful distinction:

"If I was a hopeless cad, I apologize."
"If I were a hopeless cad, I would never apologize."

 

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