he blamed himself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he blamed himself" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing feelings of guilt or responsibility for a situation or outcome. Example: "After the project failed, he blamed himself for not putting in enough effort."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

He blamed himself.

The New York Times

Mostly, he blamed himself.

The New York Times - Sports

And he blamed himself.

The New York Times

He blamed himself for falling short.

The New York Times - Sports

But mostly he blamed himself.

The New York Times - Magazine

Deep down he blamed himself".

The Guardian - Books

He blamed himself for rushing the plays.

The New York Times - Sports

He said he blamed himself for their situation.

The New York Times

His mother had died, from alcoholism, and he blamed himself.

The New Yorker

He blamed himself for Ms. Black's embattled term.

The New York Times

My father never blamed the soldiers, he blamed himself.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the intensity of the situation. "He blamed himself" can range from mild regret to profound guilt; choose synonyms if a different shade of meaning is required.

Common error

Avoid using "he blamed himself" for trivial situations. It's a strong phrase that implies a significant sense of responsibility. For minor errors, consider weaker expressions like "he regretted his action" or "he felt a little bad".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he blamed himself" functions as a statement where the subject (he) attributes fault to himself. It's a declarative statement indicating self-reproach. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he blamed himself" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote self-reproach and the acceptance of responsibility for a negative outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While versatile across different contexts, it's most prevalent in news and media. When employing this phrase, ensure the context clearly establishes what the person is taking responsibility for, and consider synonyms to convey varying degrees of guilt or regret. Avoid using this strong phrase for minor situations where lighter expressions of regret would be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he held himself responsible

This alternative emphasizes the acceptance of accountability.

he took responsibility

This implies a broader shouldering of the burden.

he held himself accountable

This phrase focuses on being answerable for one's actions.

he shouldered the blame

This suggests bearing the burden of guilt or fault.

he felt guilty

This describes the emotional state associated with blame.

he reproached himself

This alternative conveys a sense of self-criticism.

he accused himself

This signifies an internal indictment.

he took the fall

This expression suggests accepting consequences for others.

he carried the can

This is an idiomatic way of saying he accepted the blame.

he was self-reproachful

This alternative highlights a state of being critical of oneself.

FAQs

What does it mean to say that "he blamed himself"?

Saying that "he blamed himself" means he believed he was responsible for something negative that happened, often feeling guilt or regret as a result.

What can I say instead of "he blamed himself"?

You can use alternatives like "he held himself responsible", "he took responsibility", or "he felt guilty" depending on the context.

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

Yes, "he blamed himself" is grammatically correct. The verb "blame" takes a direct object, and in this case, the reflexive pronoun "himself" indicates that the subject is both the one doing the blaming and the one being blamed.

What's the nuance between "he blamed himself" and "he felt responsible"?

"He blamed himself" typically implies a stronger sense of guilt and direct causation. "He felt responsible" can be a broader acknowledgment of a duty or obligation, even if direct blame isn't fully present.