conceive of myself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "conceive of myself" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing self-perception or self-identity, often in a reflective or philosophical context. Example: "In moments of introspection, I often struggle to conceive of myself as the person I aspire to be."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

I certainly couldn't conceive of myself as a pilgrim, the kind who makes a journey to a holy place for religious purposes.

The New York Times - Travel

After all, I certainly seem to be able to conceive of myself as having been born in France, having been born an Orthodox Jew, or being born an only child instead of having a brother as I do.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

I felt I was a head of an urban lifestyle company and I've never conceived of myself as car person [or knowing] anything about cars.

The Guardian - Business

"I was asked: Could I have conceived of myself being on the other side of Napster, Microsoft and Bush v. Gore?

The New York Times

Up until that point, I conceived of myself as an unfinished thing – a life suspended until I could fix what was wrong with me.

The Guardian - Opinion

The list of the country at its most malign could go on, but my point is this: I have never conceived of myself for the length of a single sentence as an American Jewish or Jewish American writer, any more than I imagine Dreiser and Hemingway and Cheever thought of themselves while at work as American Christian or Christian American or just plain Christian writers.

The New Yorker

I can't imagine how I might have conceived of myself and my possibili­ties if, in my formative years, I had moved through a city where most things were named after women and many or most of the monuments were of powerful, successful, honored women.

The New Yorker

Shapiro also appeared to pick up the Worst Picture of the Decade award at the 30th Golden Raspberry Awards, giving a speech quoting negative reviews, and thanking both the studio for firing him and Corey Mandell for "rewriting my script in a way I never, ever, ever — could have imagined or conceived of myself".

Wikipedia

Hard to conceive of that".

The New York Times

"It's hard to even conceive of".

The New York Times

I can't conceive of that.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In academic writing, consider more formal alternatives like "perceive myself" or "understand myself" for clarity and precision.

Common error

Avoid using "conceive of myself" in casual conversation or informal writing. Its formality can sound unnatural in everyday settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "conceive of myself" functions as an intransitive verb followed by a reflexive pronoun and a preposition. As suggested by Ludwig, it indicates the process of forming an idea or understanding of one's own identity, potential, or characteristics.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "conceive of myself" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express self-perception and understanding. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's most fitting in reflective or philosophical contexts. While relatively rare, it appears in reputable sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian. For more informal situations, alternatives like "imagine myself" or "see myself as" may be more suitable. Avoid overuse in casual conversation to maintain a natural tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Imagine myself

Focuses more on the act of visualizing or creating a mental image of oneself.

Envision myself

Similar to 'imagine', but often implies a more detailed or planned vision of oneself.

Perceive myself

Emphasizes how one views or understands themselves based on observation and experience.

See myself as

Directly indicates the role or identity one assigns to themselves.

Consider myself

Highlights a more deliberate or thoughtful evaluation of oneself.

Regard myself as

Similar to 'consider', but may imply a more formal or distanced assessment.

Think of myself as

Focuses on one's internal thoughts and self-talk regarding identity.

Believe myself to be

Indicates a strong conviction or personal truth about one's nature or capabilities.

Recognize myself as

Emphasizes acknowledging or accepting a particular aspect of one's identity.

Understand myself as

Focuses on having a comprehensive knowledge or awareness of one's self.

FAQs

How can I use "conceive of myself" in a sentence?

"Conceive of myself" is used to express how you understand or imagine yourself. For example, "I struggle to conceive of myself as a leader" or "I never conceived of myself as an artist until recently".

What are some alternatives to "conceive of myself"?

Alternatives include "imagine myself", "envision myself", "perceive myself", or "see myself as". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more correct to say "conceive of myself as" or "conceive myself as"?

While "conceive myself as" might be understandable, "conceive of myself as" is the more idiomatic and grammatically accepted form. The preposition "of" is typically included.

What is the difference between "conceive of myself" and "imagine myself"?

"Imagine myself" often refers to creating a mental picture or scenario, whereas "conceive of myself" implies a deeper understanding or belief about your identity or nature. For instance, you might "imagine myself" winning the lottery, but "conceive of myself" as a fundamentally lucky person.