he believes himself

USAGE SUMMARY

"he believes himself" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is usually used to describe a person who has a strong faith in their own abilities or beliefs. Example: "Despite facing many challenges, John believes himself capable of achieving his goals."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

He believes himself beholden to no one, and he believes himself the leader of a revolution.

The Economist

What's not clear is just how much of this zombie stuff he believes himself.

The New York Times - Magazine

He believes himself a soldier at war and a patriot, just as his victims do.

The Economist

When he believes himself to be right, Paterno can be a stubborn contrarian.

The New York Times - Sports

He believes himself to be the best, and won't rest until everyone agrees.

The Guardian - Music

Tocqueville is perhaps less perceptively brilliant than he believes himself to be.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

But still he believed himself untouchable.

The Guardian

He believed himself to be the Übermensch he had ached to become when he first read Nietzsche.

The Economist

Fittingly, Maugham's obsession with the greatness of which he believed himself incapable occasionally spurred him to achieve it.

The New Yorker

He believed himself to possess a set of basic analytical tools for operating upon a work of art.

The Guardian - Books

Lucas dressed like the businessman he believed himself to be and was.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he believes himself" to convey a strong conviction in one's own abilities or a firm adherence to a particular belief. It is most effective when highlighting a contrast between internal perception and external reality.

Common error

While grammatically correct, excessive use of "he believes himself" can make writing sound repetitive or self-centered. Opt for synonyms like "he considers himself" or rephrase the sentence to maintain variety and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he believes himself" functions as a statement of self-perception or conviction. It reflects a subject's internal assessment of their own qualities, abilities, or status. As Ludwig AI states, it's grammatically correct and used to describe someone's self-perception.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

8%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

4%

Science

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he believes himself" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to express an individual's self-perception or conviction. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While common across various contexts, including News & Media, Academia, and Encyclopedias, writers should be mindful of overuse and consider nuanced alternatives like "he considers himself" or "he regards himself" to maintain clarity and stylistic variety. This phrase is suitable for neutral registers, conveying confidence, arrogance, or self-awareness effectively. The best practice involves using it to highlight a contrast between internal perception and external reality, while avoiding repetitive use in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he considers himself

Uses "considers" instead of "believes", suggesting a more thoughtful assessment rather than just belief.

he regards himself

Replaces "believes" with "regards", implying a certain perspective or judgment of self.

he perceives himself

Substitutes "believes" with "perceives", focusing on how he views or understands himself.

he imagines himself

Uses "imagines" instead of "believes", suggesting a possible disconnect from reality.

he deems himself

Replaces "believes" with "deems", which indicates a more formal or authoritative judgment.

he thinks himself

Uses "thinks" instead of "believes", which can imply a less certain or more speculative view.

he views himself

Substitutes "believes" with "views", focusing on the way he sees himself, often from a detached perspective.

he characterizes himself

Replaces "believes" with "characterizes", indicating how he defines or describes himself.

he understands himself

Uses "understands" instead of "believes", implying a level of self-awareness and comprehension.

he knows himself

Replaces "believes" with "knows", suggesting a deep and certain level of self-awareness.

FAQs

How can I use "he believes himself" in a sentence?

Use "he believes himself" to indicate a person's strong conviction in their own abilities or perceptions, such as "He believes himself to be the best candidate for the job, despite his lack of experience."

What phrases are similar to "he believes himself"?

You can use alternatives like "he considers himself", "he regards himself", or "he perceives himself" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "he believes himself"?

Yes, "he believes himself" is grammatically correct and commonly used to describe someone's self-perception or conviction.

What's the difference between "he believes himself" and "he knows himself"?

"He believes himself" indicates a strong conviction that may or may not be based on concrete evidence, while "he knows himself" suggests a deeper, more certain self-awareness and understanding.