separate oneself from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "separate oneself from" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of distancing oneself from a person, group, or situation, often for personal or emotional reasons. Example: "In order to grow, sometimes you need to separate oneself from toxic relationships."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

As a teacher in a secure institution one has to separate oneself from what the person did and simply teach the person.

The Guardian - Books

Even then, it takes several minutes to separate oneself from the noise of the production and appreciate just how extraordinary a creation Lucky is.

The New Yorker

"The necessity was to separate oneself from one's mother, or destroy her, at least symbolically, and replace her with a mother figure of one's choosing".

The Guardian

Thus, the Bundist maxim: "It is better to go along with the masses in a not totally correct direction than to separate oneself from them and remain a purist".

The New Yorker

It is a decision and a commitment to separate oneself from destructive practices, to walk righteously with the creator, and do what is best, as a servant, for my people.

Science Magazine

However we need to be clear that giving is not to separate oneself from others, but rather to realize oneness of all.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Unsurprisingly given the tone of the text as a whole, much of what follows that passage discusses the difficulty of separating oneself from the homogenizing forces of society.

SEP

For it was one thing at a time when most Jews acted correctly, and only a minority were brazen enough to do this transgression, then such an act was a rejecting of the Torah and acting despicably in a brazen way, and separating oneself from the Jewish People.

Huffington Post

Finding a closer circle of friends helps in separating oneself from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and gives more significance and value to those relationships.

WikiHow

Maritain's argument, which resembles the Thomistic argument from contingent being, is that, in one's intuition of being, one is aware, first, of a reality separate from oneself, second, of oneself as finite and limited, and, third, of the necessity that there is something "completely free from nothingness and death" (Approches de Dieu, p. 15).

SEP

Separating oneself intentionally and internationally from other Jews is a stupidity.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "separate oneself from" when emphasizing a deliberate act of distancing for personal or ideological reasons.

Common error

Avoid using "separate from oneself" instead of "separate oneself from". The reflexive pronoun 'oneself' is crucial to indicate that the subject is performing the action upon themselves.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "separate oneself from" functions as a phrasal verb indicating the action of distancing or distinguishing oneself from something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

21%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

4%

Encyclopedias

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "separate oneself from" is a grammatically sound and useful phrasal verb for expressing the act of distancing or disassociating. As Ludwig AI pointed out, it is correct and can be used when talking about distancing oneself from a person, group, or situation. While not exceedingly common, it appears across diverse contexts, from news and media to scientific and wiki sources, suggesting a broad applicability. Remember to use the correct reflexive pronoun ('oneself') and consider alternatives like "distance oneself from" or "detach oneself from" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

distance oneself from

Focuses on creating space, either physically or emotionally, between oneself and something else.

detach oneself from

Emphasizes a release of emotional or psychological connection.

disassociate oneself from

Highlights a formal or deliberate act of severing ties, often to avoid being linked to something.

withdraw from

Suggests a retreat or removal from involvement in something.

isolate oneself from

Emphasizes creating a state of being alone or apart from others.

divorce oneself from

Implies a complete and formal separation, similar to ending a marriage.

break away from

Suggests a forceful departure or rebellion against something.

abstain from

Implies a voluntary refraining from something, often due to moral or ethical reasons.

extract oneself from

Highlights the difficulty of the separation.

secede from

Suggests a formal and often political act of withdrawing from a larger group or entity.

FAQs

How can I use "separate oneself from" in a sentence?

You can use "separate oneself from" to describe distancing from a group, idea, or situation. For example: "As a teacher in a secure institution one has to "separate oneself from" what the person did and simply teach the person."

What are some alternatives to "separate oneself from"?

Alternatives include "distance oneself from", "detach oneself from", or "disassociate oneself from", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more formal to use "separate oneself from" or "distance oneself from"?

"Separate oneself from" and "distance oneself from" are generally interchangeable, with "distance oneself from" potentially sounding slightly less formal in some contexts.

When is it appropriate to use "separate oneself from" in writing?

Use "separate oneself from" when you want to emphasize a conscious decision to become distinct or independent from something, whether it's a group, belief, or past behavior.