it's myself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it's myself" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly when someone intends to say "it's me" or "it's I." Example: "When I looked in the mirror, I realized it's myself I need to work on."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

It's not my husband who's applying for this role [at the BBC], it's myself".

BBC

In a sense, it's myself kissing myself.

The New York Times - Magazine

"It's not my husband that's applying for this role, it's myself," she said.

Independent

I don't think anybody cares if it's myself who made it.

The New York Times

They asked me who it was and I said: "It's myself".

The Guardian

And I think if it's two, it's myself and Senator Kerry.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

It was myself.

Princeton University

It was myself, Christian Ziege and Sander Westerveld.

The Guardian - Sport

It was myself, unbalanced.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"It is myself that I remake," Yeats writes.

The New York Times - Books

"The year before, maybe it was myself and Martina Hingis.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In spoken English, "it's me" is generally acceptable and more common than "it is I".

Common error

Many speakers mistakenly use reflexive pronouns (myself, himself, herself) instead of personal pronouns (me, him, her) after linking verbs like 'is'. Remember that the pronoun should agree in case with the subject it renames, which in this case calls for 'me' or 'I'.

Linguistic Context

"It's myself" functions as a subject complement, incorrectly using a reflexive pronoun where a personal pronoun is required. Ludwig AI points out this grammatical error.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

17%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While "it's myself" appears frequently in various sources, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI clearly indicates that the correct alternatives are "it's me" (informal) or "it is I" (formal). Although used across contexts like News & Media and Science, the phrase's incorrect usage lowers its overall quality and suitability for formal writing. Remember to prioritize grammatical accuracy by opting for "it's me" or "it is I" to ensure clarity and professionalism in your communication. The prevalence of this error underscores the importance of careful proofreading and attention to pronoun case.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is me

A grammatically correct and commonly used alternative in informal contexts.

it is I

More formal and grammatically correct alternative using the nominative case.

that is me

Similar in meaning but emphasizes identification.

that is I

Similar in meaning to "that is me" but uses the nominative case for more formality.

I am the one

More emphatic and assertive way of identifying oneself.

I'm the one

Contraction of "I am the one", maintaining the emphasis in a slightly less formal tone.

myself

Simply stating "myself" in response, though it often requires context.

it's only me

Indicates it's just you and aims to reassure or downplay.

I am

A simple, direct statement of identity.

the person in question is me

Humorous and elaborate way to indicate it's you.

FAQs

Is "it's myself" grammatically correct?

No, "it's myself" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct forms are "it's me" (informal) or "it is I" (formal).

When should I use "it is I" instead of "it's me"?

"It is I" is more formal and less common in everyday speech. Use "it is I" in formal writing or situations where strict grammatical correctness is important.

What's a simple way to correct the phrase "it's myself"?

Simply replace "myself" with "me". For example, instead of "It's myself who made the cake", say "it's me" who made the cake.

Are there any situations where "myself" is the correct pronoun to use?

Yes, "myself" is correct when used as a reflexive pronoun (referring back to the subject) or as an intensifier (emphasizing the subject). For example, "I did it myself" or "I myself saw it happen" are correct usages.