himself

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "himself" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used as a reflexive pronoun, meaning that it refers back to the subject of the sentence or clause. For example, "He bought the car himself."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She said: "As Mr Darling consistently explained, he paid for personal tax advice himself.

The Guardian

I said, 'Look, I'll have a look at it.' " Brown said he may have given instructions for the minute to be changed and conceded he made alterations himself.

The Guardian

He renamed months of the year in honour of himself and his mother, and wrote a lifestyle guide, the Ruhnama, which became required reading for high school and university students.

The Guardian

"The UWA vice chancellor found himself in an impossible position when the centre was used as a political football.

The Guardian

Gray only last week said Rudd was able to "get himself into the media … what he can't do is govern and what he can't do is lead the Labor party".

The Guardian

A Washington Post article published on Wednesday revealed vague details of a police document that quoted a prisoner who had been placed in the same police van as Gray – though in a separate compartment – as saying Gray had been "trying to injure himself".

The Guardian

He pointed out that having founded the FN and "led it during a period of 40 years of constant adversity" he considered himself a good "locomotive" to head the local regional election campaign.

The Guardian

As the Italian senate was deciding to expel Berlusconi following his conviction for tax fraud, the man himself was addressing a rally of his supporters outside his home in Rome.

The Guardian - Opinion

He dealt with one department at a time, often chairing meetings himself.

The Guardian

In effect, Di Girolamo was being asked to help draft a letter to himself.

The Guardian

Instead the focus of everyone's attention was left to congratulate himself on his decision-making – "It was about the substitutes," Van Gaal volunteered – on an evening when the only real downside for United was the injury bulletin about Luke Shaw, Jonny Evans and Antonio Valencia.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that "himself" always refers back to a clear, masculine singular subject in the sentence.

Common error

Avoid using "himself" when the subject is not a masculine singular pronoun or noun. For example, it would be incorrect to say, "The team completed the project himself."

Linguistic Context

The primary function of "himself" is to act as a reflexive pronoun. It refers back to the masculine singular subject of a clause or sentence, indicating that the subject is also the recipient of the action. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Sport

25%

Opinion

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Arts

8%

Science

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "himself" functions as a reflexive pronoun, referring back to a masculine singular subject and emphasizing self-action or personal involvement. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and very common in various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Sport. To ensure proper usage, verify that "himself" aligns with a masculine singular subject, and avoid using it when referring to other subjects. Consider related alternatives like "on his own" or "personally" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by himself

Similar to 'on his own', stressing solitude and self-reliance.

on his own

Emphasizes independence and lack of assistance.

personally

Highlights direct involvement or action by the individual.

unaided

Focuses on the lack of external help in performing an action.

without assistance

Formally emphasizes the absence of any help.

of his own accord

Highlights the voluntary and unprompted nature of the action.

in person

Stresses physical presence and direct participation.

single-handedly

Emphasizes doing something entirely alone, often implying difficulty.

as an individual

Draws attention to the person's distinct identity and actions.

without external support

Highlights the lack of outside resources or aid.

FAQs

How is "himself" used in a sentence?

"Himself" is a reflexive pronoun that refers back to a masculine singular subject. For example, "He injured "himself"" or "John made the cake "himself"".

What are some alternatives to using "himself"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "on his own", "personally", or "by himself" to convey a similar meaning.

When is it appropriate to use "himself" instead of "him"?

Use "himself" when the object of the verb is the same person as the subject. For instance, "He praised himself" is correct, while "He praised him" implies he praised someone else.

What is the difference between "himself" and "the man himself"?

"Himself" is a reflexive pronoun, while "the man himself" is an emphatic appositive, adding emphasis to the subject. For example, "The director himself approved the changes" highlights that it was indeed the director.