self describe

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "self describe" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to convey the act of describing oneself, but it is not a commonly used expression. Example: "In the application, please self describe your skills and experiences relevant to the position."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

A man who could laugh at the "dark and sinister effect" of the newspaper photographs of his bearded older self; describe his younger self as "a bright young prig in a high collar like a curate".

The Guardian - Books

RH: I can't speak for Facebook, but their goals seem to be…they self describe as a social utility, what they mean is sharing a variety of social experience that matter to you.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Mr. Self described the parallel patrols in terms that evoked the United States' military approach in Iraq.

The New York Times

Sahlu Merine, treasurer of the Ethiopian Community Mutual Assistance Association of New York, a self described "die-hard injera lover," said he buys his supply from Ms. Mengistu.

The New York Times - Food

The novelist Will Self describes its disappearance as "just another casualty of the relentless spatialisation of international capital flows that is London's new skyline".

The Guardian - Arts

Fenton is a self described freedom-loving techno geek.

TechCrunch

Bakfy had previously self described as 'Secret for colleges'.

TechCrunch

LawPivot is a self described "Quora for legal" that allows technology companies to confidentially ask legal questions to expert attorneys.

TechCrunch

Less tangible was the general loss of sense of self described by a few participants (ibid).

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

Right now that would include the post on Statbot, which is written by a self described "17-year-old wannabe geek from India" named Yuvi.

TechCrunch

San Francisco based Zivity, a self described "community-powered showcase of female beauty," will add a high profile technologist to their executive team next week.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for concise phrasing, favor "describes itself as" over "self describes as".

Common error

Avoid using "self describe" as a verb phrase. It is not standard English. Instead, use a verb like "describe" with "oneself" as the object, or use a noun phrase like "self-description".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "self describe" is intended to function as a verb, but it's grammatically incorrect. The correct usage involves using "describe" with a reflexive pronoun or employing a noun phrase like "self-description". Ludwig AI identifies this as non-standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "self describe" is considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. It's better to use alternatives like "describe yourself", "describe oneself", or "provide a self-description" for clarity and grammatical correctness. While "self describe" may appear in some contexts, particularly in news and media, it's best to avoid it in formal writing. Using grammatically sound alternatives will enhance the credibility and clarity of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

describe oneself

This is a direct and grammatically correct alternative, focusing on the act of a person describing themselves.

offer a self-description

This phrase emphasizes the act of providing a description of oneself, often in a written or formal context.

provide a self-characterization

Similar to 'self-description' but implies a more considered or subjective portrayal.

characterize oneself

Focuses on the act of defining or portraying oneself in a particular way.

portray oneself

Emphasizes the image or impression someone tries to create when describing themselves.

state one's attributes

A more formal alternative that focuses on listing qualities or characteristics.

present a personal profile

Implies a structured and comprehensive overview of oneself, often for professional purposes.

give a self-account

Highlights the act of providing a narrative or explanation of oneself.

detail one's qualities

Focuses on providing specific information about one's characteristics or traits.

outline one's features

Emphasizes the act of presenting a concise summary of one's key characteristics.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "self describe"?

The grammatically correct alternatives include "describe yourself", "describe oneself", or "provide a self-description". You can also use the adjective "self-describing".

How can I use "describe yourself" in a sentence?

Instead of using "self describe", you could ask "How would you describe yourself?" or "Please "describe yourself" in three words."

What's a more formal way to say "self describe"?

For a more formal tone, use "provide a self-description" or "offer a self-characterization". These phrases are suitable for professional or academic contexts.

Is "self described" the same as "self describe"?

"Self described" is the past participle and functions as an adjective (e.g., "a self described expert"), while "self describe" is not a recognized verb phrase. Therefore, they are not interchangeable.