declare himself as

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "declare himself as" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct usage would be "declare himself" without the "as." Example: "He decided to declare himself the leader of the group."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Then the candidate who captures Ohio could declare himself as having the edge.

The New York Times

After the liberation, it seems Mr. Plée did not declare himself as the possessor of confiscated Jewish property, as required by law; in failing to do so, he risked prison and a heavy fine.

The New York Times

7.56am: Brett Badger, who refuses to declare himself as an Australian but probably is, weighs in for the Sheilas: "l must admit to being a little confused by all this British babble.

The Guardian - Sport

Cameron thinks he can find some political traction in contrasting his libertarian paternalism from Gordon Brown's economic control-freakery, but Brown is rapidly outgrowing his job as chancellor and will doubtless soon declare himself as a libertarian paternalist too.

The Guardian - Opinion

Should he maybe declare himself as an independent?

Huffington Post

Namely Bill... who goes all John Edwhens-Andrew Young when he asks Don to take the hit and declare himself as the only polygamist working at HomePlus.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Despite the size of those challenges, he declared himself "as hopeful as ever" that the nation will thrive.

The New York Times

Barton declared himself "as committed to Glasgow Rangers as the day I signed", but also implied criticism of the way Warburton had handled the situation and cast doubt on his desire to change his ways.

The Guardian - Sport

Violinists in black turtlenecks played plaintively to a soundtrack of hard-luck stories, including one man's descent from doorman to depression and another who declared himself as useful as "a one-legged Rockette".

The New York Times

Mrpimpgoodgame, real name Benny Winfield Jr, declares himself as the "Leader of the selfie movement" on Instagram.

The Guardian - Arts

But if any candidate declared himself as a responsible power for life, I might well vote for them - I'd even go barefoot to vote.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clear and grammatically correct English, it's best to omit the "as" after "declare himself". Use alternatives like "proclaim himself", "identify himself", or rephrase the sentence for better clarity.

Common error

The phrase "declare himself" already implies a statement of identity or status. Adding "as" is redundant and grammatically incorrect. Instead of "declare himself as", simply state what the person is declaring himself to be.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "declare himself as" functions as a verbal phrase aiming to express the act of someone announcing or stating their new role, identity, or status. However, Ludwig AI indicates that the inclusion of "as" is grammatically incorrect, making the phrase non-standard in formal English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "declare himself as" appears in various sources, it is considered grammatically incorrect by Ludwig AI. The correct usage is to omit the "as" and simply say "declare himself". It is often used to describe someone announcing a new role or identity. For more formal or grammatically precise writing, alternatives such as "proclaim himself" or "identify himself" are preferable. It is important to adhere to standard English grammar to ensure clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

identify himself as

Implies self-identification with a particular group or characteristic.

proclaim himself

This alternative suggests a more formal and public announcement.

announce himself as

Similar to "declare himself as", but implies a formal announcement of a new role or identity.

assert himself as

This phrase indicates taking a stand or claiming a position with confidence.

present himself as

Suggests a deliberate effort to appear or be perceived in a certain way.

profess to be

This alternative suggests a claim of being something, often with a hint of skepticism.

style himself

Implies adopting a particular title or name, often self-chosen.

come out as

This alternative refers to revealing a previously hidden identity or affiliation.

avow himself to be

Suggests a solemn or formal declaration of one's beliefs or identity.

purport to be

Implies claiming to be something, often with doubt about the truthfulness of the claim.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "declare himself" in a sentence?

Use "declare himself" followed directly by the role, identity, or characteristic being claimed. For example, "He decided to declare himself the leader of the group."

What's a more formal alternative to "declare himself"?

Consider using "proclaim himself" for a more formal and public announcement.

Is there a difference between "declare himself" and "identify himself"?

"Declare himself" often implies a formal or official statement, while "identify himself" suggests a self-perception or affiliation.

When is it appropriate to use "announce himself as" instead of "declare himself as"?

While "declare himself as" is grammatically incorrect, "announce himself as" can be used to describe a formal announcement of a position or role, although simpler phrasing is generally preferred.