compel myself

USAGE SUMMARY

'compel myself' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used to express the idea of forcing oneself to do something that one does not necessarily want to do. For example, "I had to compel myself to stay up all night to finish my school project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Sometimes, I just have to compel myself to write the next book.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

This secrecy prompted the Center for Constitutional Rights to commence formal legal action on behalf of several journalists and activists, including myself, to compel greater transparency.

The Guardian - Opinion

The potential haters compel me to doubt myself, and I detest the fact that that happens at all.

Huffington Post

Had not General Wilcox (Cadmus M. Wilcox, C.S.A, First Army Corps) kindly supplied me with food from his own table, and made me a guest rather than a prisoner, I believe I should have been compelled to throw myself down with the rest and crave the treatment I myself was yielding.

The New York Times

It stripped some of the willful innocence in which I had wrapped myself and compelled me to see for myself some of what Conroy had written about in this novel.

Huffington Post

With each new book I seem compelled to move myself into a new location.

The Guardian - Books

Whenever I felt compelled to explain myself and the cold facts of our history, that night outside Kenny's was the necessary moment.

The New York Times - Magazine

The empty tub with the view beyond looked like an incomplete painting and I felt compelled to immerse myself, to be a part of that landscape.

The New York Times - Travel

At times of particular stress (or, as my husband would tell you, every night), I find myself compelled to check the front door several times.

The Guardian

In the aftermath of the tragedies of Sept. 11, I find myself compelled to address "the least of it" as well.

The New York Times

At its worst, this gave me the sensation of having died and being compelled to haunt myself, of floating three or four feet behind the action.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "compel myself" when you want to emphasize the internal struggle or effort required to make yourself do something, particularly when it's against your immediate inclinations.

Common error

Avoid using "compel myself" when a simpler expression of motivation would suffice. For instance, instead of "I compelled myself to go for a walk because it was sunny", consider "I decided to go for a walk because it was sunny" if there was no significant internal resistance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "compel myself" functions as a reflexive verb phrase, indicating that the subject is both the actor and the recipient of the action. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, used to express the act of forcing oneself to do something.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "compel myself" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe the act of forcing oneself to do something, often against one's immediate desires. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct. While relatively rare, it appears in news and media contexts and carries a neutral tone. Consider alternative phrases like "force myself" or "push myself" to add nuance to your writing. When using "compel myself", ensure it accurately reflects a genuine internal struggle rather than a simple decision to act.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

force myself

This is a direct synonym, emphasizing the act of applying force to oneself.

make myself

Indicates causing oneself to do something, often implying a degree of reluctance.

urge myself

Suggests a strong internal encouragement to do something.

push myself

Implies exerting effort to overcome resistance and achieve something.

drive myself

Conveys a sense of being strongly motivated and determined.

oblige myself

Suggests a sense of duty or obligation to do something.

constrain myself

Indicates limiting one's own actions or impulses.

coerce myself

This option shares a similar meaning, with the nuance of doing something against initial preferences.

require myself

This option implies that you're obligating yourself to do something, as if you were establishing your own rule.

get myself to

Informal way to say you overcame difficulty in starting to perform an action.

FAQs

What does "compel myself" mean?

The phrase "compel myself" means to force or strongly urge oneself to do something, often when facing internal resistance or a lack of desire to do it.

How can I use "compel myself" in a sentence?

You can use "compel myself" to describe overcoming reluctance or inertia. For example, "I had to compel myself to exercise, even though I was tired."

What are some alternatives to "compel myself"?

Alternatives include "force myself", "make myself", or "push myself", each carrying slightly different nuances of self-motivation and effort.

Is it more formal to say "compel myself" or "force myself"?

"Compel myself" is generally considered slightly more formal than "force myself", but both are appropriate in many contexts. The best choice depends on the specific tone and audience.