problems himself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "problems himself" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express that someone is dealing with their own problems, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "He often faces problems himself, but he tries to handle them without asking for help."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Mr. de Vaul counters by saying that he has called in many of those problems himself.

The New York Times

She portrayed Trump's boasts of being able to fix the country's problems himself as un-American.

The Guardian - Opinion

Rutherford, who has serious health problems himself, said: "It was never our intention to go this far.

The Guardian

At their peak, the Wilsons employed 20 workers to deal with maintenance issues, but in his early years as a landlord Fergus tried sorting out problems himself.

The Guardian - Money

As Carlyle (no stranger to marital problems himself) wrote, the homes of these utilitarians, devoted to philosophical self-improvement, "are little Hells of improvidence, discord, unreason".

The Guardian - Books

After all, over Bank Century, he created many of his problems himself, through political misjudgments, hypersensitivity to criticism, and a bewildering failure to defend his most senior colleagues and ministers from the outset.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

He created this problem himself.

The New York Times

He couldn't see the problem himself.

The Guardian - Opinion

He had trouble getting his limbs working in concert and tried remedying the problem himself.

The New York Times

"The whole point is to help the patient solve the problem himself.

The New York Times - Health

James resolved the problem himself last summer and now stands one win from the finals.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "problems himself" in formal writing. Opt for clearer alternatives such as "his own problems" or "personal difficulties".

Common error

Using "problems himself" can sound unnatural to native English speakers. Replace it with a more standard construction like "his own problems" for better clarity and acceptance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "problems himself" is grammatically non-standard. It attempts to express the idea of someone experiencing personal issues or difficulties. However, its structure is awkward and not readily accepted in formal English. This is further reinforced by Ludwig's observation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

7.5%

Less common in

Wiki

7.5%

Formal & Business

0%

Academic

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "problems himself" is grammatically incorrect and not recommended for use in standard English. While it appears in some sources, its frequency is low, and Ludwig points out its awkwardness. It is better to use alternative phrases like "his own problems" or rephrase the sentence for clarity and better communication. Considering the grammatical issues and available alternatives, avoiding this phrase is the best practice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

his own problems

Focuses on the possessive aspect, indicating the problems belong to him.

personal difficulties

Replaces "problems" with a more formal synonym and "himself" with a more general term.

faced his own issues

Uses "issues" instead of "problems" and adds the verb "faced" for better flow.

dealt with his challenges

Employs "challenges" for a more positive spin and adds the verb "dealt with" for clarity.

experienced his share of troubles

Uses a more idiomatic expression to convey the idea of having problems.

he personally struggled with issues

Adds emphasis with "personally" and uses "struggled with" for a stronger verb.

his personal struggles

Highlights the personal aspect of the struggles.

the issues he had

A simpler, more direct way to express the idea.

the problems he encountered

Replaces "had" with a more formal verb, "encountered".

his own set of problems

Highlights that problems are a set.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "problems himself"?

You can use phrases like "his own problems", "personal difficulties", or "issues he faced" depending on the specific context.

Is "problems himself" grammatically correct?

No, "problems himself" is not grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use alternatives like "his own problems" or rephrase the sentence for clarity.

How can I use "his own problems" in a sentence?

You can say, "He needed to focus on "his own problems" before helping others".

What's the difference between "problems himself" and "his problems"?

"Problems himself" is grammatically incorrect. "His problems" is the correct way to refer to problems belonging to someone.