If I were you or If I was you

[analyst]

Hello Alan :

I recently came across the phrase " If I were you .... " . Is it OK to use the phrase formally or it should be like " If I was you.." because we should "was" with the subject I .

Thanks.
Umair

[Alan]

This is the subjunctive, not the indicative, mood, and therefore 'were', even in the 1st and 3rd persons, is perfectly correct.

However, particularly in BrE usage, indicative 'was' is often substituted.