let myself

USAGE SUMMARY

"let myself" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is often used as a reflexive pronoun to indicate that the speaker is the one performing the action on themselves. For example: - I need to let myself rest after a long day at work. - Can you please let myself and my colleague handle this project? - She finally let herself relax and enjoy the vacation. - I had to let myself think carefully before making a decision. - Let myself introduce you to our new team member.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"I'd let myself down.

The Guardian - Sport

I let myself sink.

The New York Times - Magazine

I let myself fly.

The New York Times - Travel

I let myself out.

The New Yorker

I let myself down.

The New York Times - Sports

I let myself be chastised.

The New Yorker

"I can't let myself go.

The New York Times

"I didn't let myself think about it.

Independent

"I do not let myself go crazy.

The New York Times

I have never let myself watch it.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I let myself hope, I let myself believe what people were saying and that was silly.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "let myself" when you want to express giving yourself permission to experience something, feel a certain way, or take a particular action. It emphasizes personal agency.

Common error

Avoid using "let myself" when the action is imposed by an external force rather than a self-granted permission. For instance, avoid saying "I let myself be punished" when it's imposed by someone else. Instead, use the passive voice: "I was punished."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "let myself" functions as a reflexive construction, where the subject performs an action upon themselves. As confirmed by Ludwig, it indicates granting oneself permission or allowing oneself to experience something. Examples include "I let myself hope" and "I let myself go".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

97%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "let myself" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express self-permission or allowance. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across various contexts, primarily in news and media. Its function is to indicate personal agency, with neutral to informal register, depending on the specific situation. When using this expression, it's important to ensure that the action genuinely stems from self-granted permission, not an external force. Alternatives like "allow myself" or "permit myself" offer slight variations in formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

allow myself

Implies granting permission to oneself, similar to "let myself" but with a slightly more formal tone.

give myself permission

Explicitly states the act of granting oneself permission, emphasizing the authority.

permit myself

A more formal and emphatic version of "let myself", suggesting a conscious decision to allow something.

authorize myself

A formal phrase suggesting the power to grant oneself the right to do something.

enable myself

Suggests providing oneself with the means or opportunity to do something.

treat myself

Similar to "indulge myself", but can also refer to practical things, like buying something useful.

indulge myself

Implies allowing oneself a pleasurable experience, often something considered a treat.

afford myself

Suggests having the resources or means to allow oneself something, often related to time or money.

resign myself

Implies accepting something unpleasant, allowing it to happen to oneself.

submit myself

Suggests yielding to something, allowing oneself to be subjected to it.

FAQs

How can I use "let myself" in a sentence?

You can use "let myself" to indicate granting permission to yourself to do something, experience something, or feel something. For example, "I decided to "let myself relax" after a long week" or "I "let myself believe" it was possible".

What's a more formal alternative to "let myself"?

If you're looking for a more formal alternative, consider using "permit myself". For example, instead of "I let myself hope", you could say "I "permit myself to hope"".

Is there a difference between "allow myself" and "let myself"?

While "allow myself" and "let myself" are often interchangeable, "allow myself" can sometimes imply a more conscious or deliberate decision to grant permission, whereas "let myself" can suggest a more passive acceptance or yielding.

When should I not use "let myself"?

Avoid using "let myself" when the action is imposed by an external force rather than something you're granting yourself. In such cases, passive voice or different phrasing might be more appropriate.