all themselves

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "all themselves" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that a group of people is acting independently or in a self-sufficient manner. Example: "The team completed the project all themselves, without any outside help."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

They can do it all themselves.

The New Yorker

They had done this all themselves.

The Guardian

They want to do it all themselves.

The New Yorker

No school can do it all themselves.

The Guardian

That's because charities can't do it all themselves.

Independent

Anybody who tells you that they can do it all themselves needs an ego adjustment.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

Most of all to themselves.

The Guardian - Business

Those messages disappear all by themselves".

The Guardian

I think they're good all by themselves.

The New York Times - Arts

Bonus: Children can "read" this one all by themselves.

The New York Times - Books

"They're in a camp all by themselves".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "all themselves" to emphasize the independent action or self-sufficiency of a group, particularly when contrasting it with reliance on others or external assistance. For example: "The students organized the entire event all themselves."

Common error

Avoid using "all themselves" when referring to a single person. Use "all by himself/herself" or "entirely on their own" instead. For example, it's incorrect to say "He did it all themselves." The correct version is "He did it all by himself."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "all themselves" functions as an emphatic pronoun, emphasizing that a group performed an action independently. As Ludwig AI explains, it indicates the group did something without external help or intervention. Examples show its use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "all themselves" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to emphasize the independent action of a group. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is acceptable in written English. It functions as an emphatic pronoun, conveying autonomy and self-reliance. It is most commonly found in news and media sources, with a neutral register. When using this phrase, remember that it is plural and that you should be careful to avoid using it when referring to a singular subject. If you wish to say something similar to "all themselves" but with slightly different wording you could try alternative formulations such as "entirely on their own" or "completely by themselves".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

entirely on their own

Replaces "all themselves" with an adverbial phrase emphasizing individual autonomy.

completely by themselves

Similar to "entirely on their own", but with a stronger emphasis on the absence of external help.

all by their own efforts

Highlights the effort and work involved in achieving something independently.

through their own agency

Emphasizes the role of the group's own initiative and power.

of their own accord

Stresses the voluntary and unprompted nature of the action.

unaided by others

Directly states the absence of external assistance.

without any outside help

Focuses on the lack of external support in completing an action.

solely through their endeavors

Highlights the hard work of the group

self-sufficiently

Expresses the capacity to provide for themselves without external assistance.

on their own steam

An idiomatic expression indicating they did it through their power and resources.

FAQs

How can I use "all themselves" in a sentence?

Use "all themselves" to emphasize a group's independent action. For example: "The children decorated the entire room "all themselves"."

What phrases are similar to "all themselves"?

Alternatives include "entirely on their own", "completely by themselves", or "unaided by others", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "all themselves" to refer to a single person?

No, "all themselves" is plural. Use "all by himself" or "all by herself" for a single person, or "entirely on their own" to be inclusive.

What's the difference between "all by themselves" and "all themselves"?

"All by themselves" emphasizes the absence of assistance, while "all themselves" highlights the group's independent capability. The meaning is very similar, and both can be used interchangeably. For example, "They built the house "all themselves"" is nearly the same as "They built the house "all by themselves"".