on themselves

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on themselves" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone is doing something for their own benefit or taking responsibility for their own actions. Example: "They decided to focus on themselves and prioritize their mental health."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(Turns out they eventually clicked on themselves).

TechCrunch

No one ever gets down on themselves.

The New York Times

Not on themselves.

The New York Times

They brought this on themselves".

The New Yorker

These fire sales quickly feed on themselves.

The Economist

People are thus thrown back on themselves.

The Economist

His characteristic sentences turn on themselves.

The New Yorker

They want to rely on themselves.

Independent

They should be tough on themselves, too.

The Economist

They had to focus only on themselves".

The New Yorker

They feed on themselves".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "on themselves" to clearly indicate that an action or feeling is directed back to the subject. This avoids ambiguity and ensures the reflexive meaning is understood.

Common error

Avoid using "on themselves" when you simply mean "for themselves". "On themselves" implies a reflexive action, where the subject acts upon itself. If the action benefits the subject but isn't directly performed by them, use "for themselves" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on themselves" functions as a prepositional phrase acting as an adverbial modifier, indicating that an action is directed back to the subject. Ludwig AI confirms that this usage is grammatically correct and commonly found in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "on themselves" is a grammatically sound and commonly used prepositional phrase that acts as an adverbial modifier to indicate a reflexive action. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and applicable in various contexts, mainly in news and media. Its purpose is to emphasize that the subject of the sentence is both the actor and the recipient of the action. While alternatives like "for themselves" or "by themselves" exist, they don't always capture the same reflexive nuance. The phrase is versatile and adaptable, making it suitable for use in numerous writing scenarios. Pay attention to ensure that the action benefits the subject and is directly performed by the subject when choosing the phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for themselves

This alternative emphasizes acting in one's own interest or benefit.

by themselves

This alternative highlights independence and self-reliance in completing a task or existing in a state.

in their own interest

Highlights actions taken to benefit oneself or the group.

to their own detriment

This emphasizes negative consequences resulting from their actions.

at their own expense

This suggests incurring costs or sacrifices due to their own actions.

focusing inwardly

This phrase refers to concentrating on their internal thoughts or feelings.

self-centeredly

This term suggests actions or thoughts primarily concerned with oneself.

with regard to themselves

This alternative introduces a degree of formality and reflexivity.

pertaining to themselves

This phrase emphasizes that the action or consideration is specifically related to them.

concerning themselves

This phrase highlights that the action or consideration is about them.

FAQs

How can I use "on themselves" in a sentence?

Use "on themselves" when the action of the verb is performed by the subject upon themselves. For example, "They put too much pressure "on themselves"." This indicates that they are directing the pressure towards themselves.

What's the difference between "on themselves" and "for themselves"?

"On themselves" indicates a reflexive action, where the subject is both the actor and the recipient of the action. "For themselves" implies acting in their own interest or benefit, but not necessarily directly upon themselves. For example, "They bought gifts for themselves" versus "They inflicted wounds on themselves".

What are some alternatives to using "on themselves"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "by themselves", "for their own sake", or "in their own interest" when the reflexive nature isn't critical. However, when the action is directly performed upon the subject, "on themselves" is the most appropriate choice.

Is it correct to say "They depend of themselves" instead of "They depend on themselves"?

No, the correct preposition to use with 'depend' in this context is "on". The correct phrasing is "They depend "on themselves"", meaning they rely on their own abilities or resources.