regard yourself as

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "regard yourself as" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express how someone should perceive or consider themselves in a particular context. Example: "In this role, you should regard yourself as a leader who inspires others."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Do you regard yourself as an economist?

The New Yorker

10 Regard yourself as a small corporation of one.

The Guardian - Books

If you regard yourself as a headline act then you have to fight in Vegas.

Independent

You might regard yourself as preparing to be a beneficiary of entrenched workplace discrimination, an ethically troubling position.

The New York Times - Magazine

Whether or not you regard yourself as a member of this group rather depends on your expectations in life.

The Guardian - Opinion

In the 2009 British Social Attitudes survey, 51% of women said they were Christian (the question was: "Do you regard yourself as belonging to any particular religion?").

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

She carefully conceded that if hundreds of thousands of people are offered a reward for your head, then you can be excused for regarding yourself as the natural subject of current historical conversation.

The New York Times

Your blood still circulates and your stomach digests things, but psychologically you have completed all your preparations for death and lived through death itself … Although you have never regarded yourself as a Christian — sometimes, indeed, the opposite — now you suddenly notice that you have already forgiven everyone who has insulted you".

The Guardian - Books

Regarding yourself as important also can revitalize you more than you can imagine.

WikiHow

You just need to be interested in politics and public policy and regard yourself, in general, as either a liberal or conservative.

University of Chicago

You can bundle choices by regarding yourself not as choosing just how to act now, but rather as choosing how to act now and on every subsequent occasion.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "regard yourself as" to encourage a specific mindset or self-perception, particularly when giving advice or instructions. For instance, "In this new role, regard yourself as a mentor to junior colleagues."

Common error

While generally acceptable, avoid overusing "regard yourself as" in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise language that directly states qualities or roles without the reflexive construction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "regard yourself as" functions as a reflexive verb phrase, indicating how someone should perceive or consider their own identity or role. It emphasizes a subjective evaluation or mindset, as Ludwig AI points out, suggesting a specific viewpoint.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "regard yourself as" is a versatile tool for shaping self-perception and offering perspective. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and frequently used across various contexts, primarily in news and media. While generally neutral in register, it’s important to consider the specific context and audience to ensure the tone aligns with the overall message. For alternative phrasing, "consider yourself to be" or "view yourself as" offer suitable substitutes, while avoiding overuse in overly formal settings is advisable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Consider yourself to be

Replaces "regard" with "consider" and restructures the sentence slightly, maintaining the same meaning.

View yourself as

Substitutes "regard" with "view", offering a direct synonym while keeping the reflexive structure.

Think of yourself as

Emphasizes the mental process of self-identification, replacing "regard" with "think of".

See yourself as

Uses "see" to suggest visualizing oneself in a certain way, similar to "view yourself as".

Perceive yourself as

Emphasizes the act of perceiving or understanding oneself in a particular way, adding a layer of interpretation.

Believe yourself to be

Highlights the element of personal belief in self-identification, suggesting a subjective truth.

Acknowledge yourself as

Implies a formal or conscious recognition of oneself in a specific role or identity.

Recognize yourself as

Focuses on the act of identifying and accepting oneself in a certain capacity.

Position yourself as

Suggests a deliberate act of presenting oneself in a particular light, often for strategic purposes.

Identify as

A shorter, more direct way of expressing self-identification, commonly used in contemporary contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "regard yourself as" in a sentence?

Use "regard yourself as" to suggest how someone should perceive or consider themselves. For example, "You should "regard yourself as" a valuable asset to the team."

What are some alternatives to "regard yourself as"?

You can use alternatives like "consider yourself to be", "view yourself as", or "think of yourself as" depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "regard yourself as" or "consider yourself as"?

"Regard yourself as" and "consider yourself as" are generally interchangeable, but "regard" may carry a slightly more formal tone. Choose the option that best fits the overall style of your writing.

Can "regard yourself as" be used in negative contexts?

Yes, it can. For example: "Don't "regard yourself as" a failure just because you faced a setback."