devise yourself

USAGE SUMMARY

'devise yourself' is not correct in written English.
You could use 'devise a plan for yourself' to mean making a plan for yourself. For example, "I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed, so I need to devise a plan for myself to get organized."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Wiki

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Devise yourself a list (either mental or actually write it down) on what foods you simply can't live without.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Or devise stories yourself.

WikiHow

After all, it is far more satisfying to discover the indiscretion yourself and devise an exit plan than to be caught off guard, deceived and dumped.

Huffington Post

If you have insomnia or other sleep disorders, talk to your doctor and devise a way to rid yourself of them.

WikiHow

However we have been attempting to devise a simple computable do-it-yourself tool which would help in drawing up and examining the staffing, service and costing implications of alternative skill mix scenarios.

Human Resources for Health

Why not allow yourself the flexibility to devise strategies that will work on the ground?

The New York Times

You have to "look inward," take stock of yourself and your "friend, not foe" across the table, and devise a strategy.

Harvard University

Force yourself to think of the suffering of someone else and devise a way to ease their discomfort in the present.

WikiHow

which helped devise the program.

The New York Times

She helps advertisers devise new media programs.

The New York Times

The two of you devise a plan.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the ungrammatical phrase "devise yourself", opt for "devise a plan for yourself" or other similar constructions that clearly indicate the act of creating a plan for personal use. This makes your writing more precise and understandable.

Common error

A common mistake is using "devise" reflexively when it requires a direct object. To avoid this, always specify what you are devising, such as "a plan", "a strategy", or "a method". Avoid saying "devise yourself"; instead say "devise a plan for yourself".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "devise yourself" functions incorrectly as it attempts to use "devise", a transitive verb, reflexively without a proper direct object. According to Ludwig AI, this usage is not standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Wiki

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "devise yourself" is grammatically incorrect and not recommended for use in formal writing. As Ludwig AI points out, "devise" is a transitive verb that requires a direct object, such as "a plan", "a strategy", or "a method". While some instances of the phrase may appear in various sources, including Wiki, News & Media, and Academia, these are likely errors or non-standard usages. It is best to use alternative phrases like "create a plan for yourself" or "develop a strategy for yourself" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

create a plan for yourself

This alternative replaces "devise" with "create" and adds "a plan for", making it grammatically correct and emphasizing the act of planning.

develop a strategy for yourself

This phrase uses "develop a strategy" instead of "devise", highlighting a more methodical approach to planning.

formulate a plan for yourself

Using "formulate a plan" is a more formal way of saying "create a plan", focusing on the structured creation of a plan.

design a system for yourself

This alternative suggests a more structured and organized approach, implying the creation of a system rather than a simple plan.

figure out a way for yourself

This phrase emphasizes problem-solving and finding a solution, rather than just planning.

work out a solution for yourself

This alternative highlights the effort involved in finding a solution or plan that works personally.

craft a method for yourself

Using "craft a method" suggests a deliberate and skillful creation of a personal method or approach.

map out a course for yourself

This phrase implies planning a direction or path, rather than a detailed plan.

chart a path for yourself

Similar to "map out a course", this alternative focuses on setting a direction and planning a journey.

invent a process for yourself

This alternative emphasizes the originality and uniqueness of the planning process.

FAQs

What's wrong with saying "devise yourself"?

The phrase "devise yourself" is grammatically incorrect. The verb "devise" requires a direct object, specifying what is being created or planned. It's more appropriate to say "devise a plan" or "create a strategy".

How can I use "devise" correctly in a sentence?

To use "devise" correctly, ensure you include a direct object. For example, "She devised a clever solution to the problem" or "They devised a new marketing campaign" are grammatically sound sentences.

What can I say instead of "devise yourself"?

Instead of "devise yourself", you can use alternatives like "create a plan for yourself", "develop a strategy for yourself", or "formulate a method for yourself" depending on the specific context.

Is "devise myself" also incorrect?

Yes, "devise myself" is also incorrect for the same reasons as "devise yourself". The verb "devise" needs a direct object, something that is being devised. A correct usage would be "I need to devise a better system".