he turned himself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he turned himself" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used to describe a person physically turning their body or changing their posture in some way. Example: John was feeling uncomfortable in his chair, so he turned himself to face the window.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

He turned himself in for treatment.

The New York Times

He turned himself in yesterday.

The New York Times

He turned himself in several days later.

The New York Times

Days later, he turned himself in.

The New York Times

He turned himself in to police on Friday.

The Guardian - Music

Then he turned himself over to the police.

The New York Times - Books

Two months later he turned himself in to the authorities.

The New York Times

Through such endless labor he turned himself into a master chef.

The New York Times

He turned himself in & soon called his cousin, who was worried.

The New Yorker

At that point he turned himself into a businessman and then a governor.

The Economist

When South Korean soldiers answered, he turned himself in, military officials said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he turned himself" when the subject willingly submits to an authority or undergoes a significant transformation, ensuring the context clearly reflects the intended meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "he turned himself" when a simple transitive verb suffices. For example, instead of "he turned himself into a monster," consider "he became a monster" if the action wasn't self-directed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he turned himself" functions as a reflexive construction, where the action of 'turning' is directed back to the subject. Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically correct, showcasing its role in depicting either a physical action or a transformative process as seen in the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he turned himself" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression with dual meanings: surrendering to authority and undergoing personal transformation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides numerous examples across diverse contexts. The phrase maintains a neutral register, commonly appearing in news and media, and its effective use depends on clearly conveying the intended meaning through context. While versatile, users should be mindful of the reflexive pronoun to ensure the action is indeed self-directed. Related phrases, such as "he surrendered" or "he transformed", can offer nuanced alternatives depending on the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he surrendered

Focuses specifically on surrendering to authorities, implying admission of guilt or acceptance of consequences.

he gave himself up

Similar to 'surrendered' but can also imply resignation or exhaustion in addition to acknowledging fault.

he submitted himself

Expresses compliance to a rule or authority.

he converted himself

Highlights that the subject changed his own behaviour, opinions or habits.

he transformed

Highlights a significant change in character, appearance, or role, losing the idea of surrendering.

he became

Emphasizes the resulting state after a transformation, with less focus on the process of change itself.

he faced the authorities

Indicates confronting or appearing before authorities, removing the element of voluntary surrender.

he turned his body

Focuses solely on the physical act of turning, lacking any implication of surrender or change.

he shifted his position

Implies a minor adjustment in physical stance, further diminishing the sense of surrender or transformation.

he altered himself

Indicates that he modified his look but not necessarily his behavior.

FAQs

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

You can use "he turned himself" to describe someone surrendering to authorities, as in "After realizing the gravity of his actions, "he turned himself" in to the police". It can also describe a transformative process, like "Through hard work, "he turned himself" into a successful entrepreneur".

What does "he turned himself" mean?

The phrase "he turned himself" can have two primary meanings. It can indicate a person voluntarily surrendering to authorities, or it can describe someone undergoing a significant change in character, appearance, or role.

Which is correct, "he turned himself in" or "he turned in himself"?

"He turned himself in" is the correct and idiomatic phrasing when referring to surrendering to authorities. "He turned in himself" is grammatically awkward and not commonly used.

Are there alternatives to "he turned himself in" that emphasize surrendering?

Yes, alternatives like "he surrendered", "he gave himself up", or "he submitted" can be used to emphasize the act of surrendering to authorities.