by itself

USAGE SUMMARY

'by itself' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to mean that something exists independently or does not need assistance or another thing. For example, "This project cannot be finished by itself; each team member needs to contribute."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

By itself, probably not.

The New York Times

By itself, no.

Forbes

Colour never lives by itself.

Independent

But it works by itself.

Independent

Energy by itself is useless.

The New York Times

It's a poison by itself".

The New York Times - Magazine

The newspaper goes by itself.

The New York Times

That's happening all by itself".

The New York Times

That didn't happen by itself.

The New York Times

By itself, almost certainly not.

The New Yorker

"Chicken doesn't move by itself".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "by itself" to clearly indicate when something is sufficient on its own, or when assessing the isolated impact of a single factor. For example: "The marketing campaign, by itself, did not significantly increase sales."

Common error

Avoid using "by itself" when multiple factors are clearly at play and isolating one is misleading. Instead, acknowledge the interplay of various influences.

Linguistic Context

The adverbial phrase "by itself" modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb, indicating that an action or state occurs independently. As Ludwig AI confirms, it signifies that something exists independently or doesn't require assistance. Examples show its use in assessing the sole impact of a factor.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

19%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "by itself" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to emphasize independence or isolation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in various contexts. It is most frequently found in News & Media, followed by Science and Wiki sources. When writing, use "by itself" to isolate the impact of a single factor, but avoid oversimplification. Consider using alternatives such as "on its own" or "independently" for variety. This comprehensive analysis provides a clear understanding of how to effectively use "by itself" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on its own

This phrase is a direct synonym, implying something is done or exists without help.

independently

This adverb emphasizes the autonomous nature of an action or entity.

unaided

This term highlights the absence of assistance in achieving something.

without assistance

This phrase explicitly states the lack of help received.

in isolation

This suggests a separation from other factors or elements.

of its own accord

This phrase implies a voluntary or spontaneous action.

single-handedly

This emphasizes that one person did everything, is suitable only when a person is involved.

automatically

This suggests that something happens without human intervention.

intrinsically

This indicates that something is inherent or essential to the nature of the thing.

as a stand-alone

This describes something that can function or be appreciated without needing anything else.

FAQs

How can I use "by itself" in a sentence?

Use "by itself" to indicate that something is acting alone or is sufficient without additional elements. For instance, "The software update, "by itself", didn't fix all the bugs."

What are some alternatives to "by itself"?

You can use alternatives such as "on its own", "independently", or "in isolation" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "by it's self" instead of "by itself"?

No, "by it's self" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "by itself", where "itself" is a reflexive pronoun.

What's the difference between "by itself" and "per se"?

"By itself" indicates something acting alone or being sufficient on its own, while "per se" means intrinsically or in itself. For example, "The color isn't offensive per se, but it clashes with the overall design."