talking about yourself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "talking about yourself" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is most often used when referring to someone who is bragging about themselves or their accomplishments. For example: "He was so self-involved, all he did was talk about himself the entire night!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Talking about yourself is not that interesting".

The Guardian - Music

Because you spend your life talking about yourself.

The Guardian - Music

During the discussion one of the students announced, "You must be tired of talking about yourself".

The New York Times - Books

It's always hard talking about yourself, when things have gone well.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The fight move: just the facts State facts, not opinions, when you're talking about yourself.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Why not? A. One possibility is that you're talking about yourself too much.

The New York Times

When you make a living talking about yourself you have to be careful.

The New York Times

You are always talking about yourself and tennis and how you are feeling.

The Guardian - Sport

"In our house, you couldn't go around talking about yourself," Jeter said in 1996.

The New York Times - Sports

It means a lot of travelling, and a lot of talking about yourself.

The Guardian - Film

Do you want to start again?" You hate talking about yourself, don't you?

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Strive for balance in conversations; avoid dominating discussions by constantly "talking about yourself". Show genuine interest in others.

Common error

Ensure you're not "talking about yourself" excessively, especially in professional or social settings. Excessive self-focus can be perceived as self-centered and may damage relationships.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "talking about yourself" primarily functions as a gerund phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig AI examples show it frequently describes the act of self-disclosure or self-reference in various contexts. As a gerund phrase it acts as a noun.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Wiki

42%

News & Media

37%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "talking about yourself" is a common and generally acceptable expression referring to the act of self-disclosure or self-reference, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's frequently used in both news and media and wiki contexts. While grammatically correct, it often carries a connotation related to conversational etiquette, implying that one might be overly focused on themselves. When using the phrase, consider the context, as excessive "talking about yourself" can be perceived negatively. To ensure balanced conversation, actively listen and show interest in others.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

referring to yourself

Highlights direct mentions of oneself in a statement.

speaking about oneself

Formal alternative emphasizing the act of self-disclosure.

self-referencing

A more technical term for including oneself in the content.

discussing your own experiences

Focuses on sharing personal narratives and history.

sharing personal anecdotes

Involves telling brief, engaging stories about one's own life.

giving a self-account

Offering a structured explanation about oneself.

bragging about yourself

Implies boastful or arrogant self-promotion.

narrating your life

Emphasizes constructing a narrative centered on oneself.

expressing your perspective

Focuses on conveying individual viewpoints and opinions.

unveiling your identity

Suggests gradual revealing of character and experiences.

FAQs

How to use "talking about yourself" in a sentence?

You can use "talking about yourself" to describe someone who is self-absorbed, as in, "He spent the entire evening "talking about himself" and didn't ask about anyone else."

What's the difference between "talking about yourself" and "speaking about oneself"?

"Talking about yourself" is generally more informal and common in everyday conversation, while "speaking about oneself" is a more formal and less frequently used alternative.

Is "talking about yourself" always negative?

Not necessarily. While it can imply boastfulness, it can also simply refer to sharing personal information or experiences in an appropriate context. The connotation often depends on the frequency and manner in which someone is "talking about yourself".

What can I do to avoid "talking about myself" too much?

Actively listen to others, ask questions about their lives and experiences, and make a conscious effort to balance your own contributions with genuine interest in what others have to say. For example: Instead of constantly "talking about yourself", you can ask your friend about his day.