he hurt himself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he hurt himself" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when speaking about or writing about an incident in which someone has injured themselves. For example, "John tripped on the stairs and fell down, and he hurt himself in the process."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

One of the few surviving videos of the clan onstage features Johnny Carson subbing for Bishop, who was injured that night -- "he hurt himself backing out of Frank's presence".

Huffington Post

Had he hurt himself?

The New York Times - Food

Since he hurt himself, there are younger kids coming up.

The New York Times - Sports

And that was just how he hurt himself directly.

The New Yorker

He hurt himself while swinging inside the batting cage Thursday.

The New York Times - Sports

Girardi said Hughes probably was capable of throwing "two or three innings" before he hurt himself.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

But if he endorses the incumbents he hurts himself".

The New York Times

In the most perilous somnambulistic misadventure he hurts himself jumping from a second-story hotel window.

The New York Times

He hurts himself and other people, even those he loves the most.

The Guardian - Books

Isn't he hurting himself and the President by appearing boastful?

The New Yorker

Ali is interested in stopping this kid before he hurts someone; Violet wants to find him before he hurts himself.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "he hurt himself", ensure the context clearly indicates whether the injury was accidental or intentional. Providing details about how the injury occurred can add clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "he hurt himself" when the action was done by someone else. For example, don't say "He hurt himself during the fight" if someone else caused the injury. Instead, clarify: "Someone hurt him during the fight."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he hurt himself" functions as a declarative statement indicating that a male subject has caused physical or emotional harm to themself. As Ludwig AI explains, it's a common way to express a self-inflicted injury or negative consequence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Wiki

7%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he hurt himself" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a situation where a male subject has caused harm to themself, as validated by Ludwig AI. It's primarily used in neutral contexts like news and media to report incidents of injury. While alternatives like "he injured himself" or "he harmed himself" exist, the best choice depends on the specific nuance and severity of the injury being described. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly indicates the injury was self-inflicted and, for clarity, add information on how injury happened.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he injured himself

Uses a synonym for "hurt" to describe a physical injury.

he harmed himself

Emphasizes a more serious level of damage or injury.

he wounded himself

Suggests a more severe injury, often implying a lasting impact.

he caused himself injury

Rephrases the action to emphasize the causation of the injury.

he did himself damage

Focuses on the resulting damage rather than the act of hurting.

he brought harm upon himself

Emphasizes the responsibility of the person for their own misfortune.

he compromised his well-being

Shifts the focus to overall health and state of being.

he negatively impacted himself

Describes a broader negative effect, not necessarily physical.

he created problems for himself

Focuses on the creation of difficulties or obstacles.

he sabotaged his efforts

Implies intentional undermining of one's own goals.

FAQs

What's the difference between "he hurt himself" and "he injured himself"?

While both phrases are similar, "he hurt himself" is generally used for less severe injuries, while "he injured himself" might imply a more significant or lasting injury. The choice depends on the context and the degree of harm.

Is it correct to say "he hurt him" instead of "he hurt himself"?

No, "he hurt him" means that he hurt someone else, not himself. "He hurt himself" is a reflexive construction, indicating that the subject performed the action on themself.

What are some alternative ways to say "he hurt himself"?

You can use alternatives like "he injured himself", "he harmed himself", or "he caused himself injury" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Can "he hurt himself" be used in a figurative sense?

Yes, although it's more commonly used for physical injuries, "he hurt himself" can sometimes be used figuratively to describe situations where someone has damaged their own reputation or prospects. For example, "he hurt himself by making controversial statements".