the individual itself

USAGE SUMMARY

"the individual itself" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to refer to a person or thing in isolation from other factors, such as external influences. For example, "The individual itself is responsible for making its own decisions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

The social effect of an individual does not affect the phenotype of the individual itself, but rather the phenotypes of all other individuals sharing the environment.

Aquaculture

As an alternative to traditional breeding schemes solely focusing on the direct breeding value affecting the phenotype of the individual itself, selection may be focused on total breeding values, including both direct and social effects.

Aquaculture

Among the situations known to affect sleep both in its duration and quality, stress has been widely studied and it is now admitted that its effects on sleep architecture depend on several factors specific to the stressor or the individual itself.

Brain Research

The effect of age is largest on the items representing the individual itself as a contributing force (r = −.21; p < .001).001

European Transport Research Review

In QLIIS 17, 68, Kilwardby points out that the species is the 'whole being' of the individual if 'whole' is taken to include only what is essential and common, because an individual includes properties that are accidental to the common nature but not to the individual itself.

SEP

For in this way one comes to see a difference between that center of past (psychic) conditions and current ones; hence all psychic conditions are recognized as accidental: the individual itself cannot be reduced to any one of them, and hence appears, in apperception, to stand forth as distinct from them (SW VI: 179).

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

We show that in some cases, undergoing a mutation is altruistic, i.e., it increases the expected fitness of the population, but decreases the expected fitness of the mutated individual itself.

Journal of Theoretical Biology

In the recursion above, the term 1/ k represents the probability that the randomly picked individual is the focal individual itself.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Inclusive fitness includes both the 'direct fitness' of the focal individual itself, and 'indirect fitness' resulting from helping a relative with shared genes.

AoB PLANTS

This model takes an individual-based approach where all members of the prey population are "copies" of one individual, and each "copy", could be the "model individual" itself.

BMC Medical Genomics

The G i is the sum of all heritable effects of i on trait values of individuals, of which A D,i surfaces in the focal individual itself, and (n-1) A S,i in its group members.

Evolutionary Applications

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "the individual itself", ensure that the context clearly isolates the individual from external factors or influences to emphasize their intrinsic properties or actions.

Common error

Avoid using "the individual itself" when a simpler phrase like "the individual" would suffice. Overusing the emphatic "itself" can make your writing sound repetitive or unnecessarily formal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the individual itself" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence. It emphasizes the self-contained nature of the individual, highlighting internal characteristics or actions as independent from external factors. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the individual itself" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, though not overly common. As Ludwig AI confirms, it highlights the self-contained aspect of a person or thing, emphasizing intrinsic qualities over external influences. Predominantly found in scientific and analytical contexts, the phrase serves to underscore autonomy and individual responsibility. While generally appropriate, it's essential to avoid redundancy and consider simpler alternatives when the emphasis is unnecessary. Use it thoughtfully to bring clarity and precision to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the person in question

This phrase replaces "individual" with "person" and uses "in question" to specify the individual being discussed.

the subject at hand

This alternative uses "subject" to refer to the individual, focusing on the topic or matter being considered.

the aforementioned individual

This is a more formal way to refer back to an individual previously mentioned.

the specific person

This alternative emphasizes the particularity of the individual.

that very individual

It adds emphasis on the particular individual being referenced.

the selfsame person

This is a more archaic and emphatic way of saying "the same person".

the entity in focus

This is a more abstract way to refer to an individual, using "entity" to broaden the scope.

the party concerned

This phrase is often used in legal or formal contexts to refer to the individual involved.

the respective individual

This phrase specifies an individual in relation to something else, implying a one-to-one correspondence.

the particular actor

This alternative uses "actor" to refer to the individual, especially in the context of actions or events.

FAQs

How does using "the individual itself" change the meaning of a sentence?

Using "the individual itself" often emphasizes that you are considering the person or thing in isolation, focusing on their intrinsic qualities or actions rather than external influences. It adds a layer of self-containment or intrinsic agency to the subject.

What are some more concise alternatives to "the individual itself"?

Depending on the context, you can use shorter phrases like "the person", "the individual", or even simply "themselves". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

In what situations is "the individual itself" most appropriate?

"The individual itself" is most fitting when you want to underscore that the subject's actions or state are due to their own nature, characteristics, or decisions, separate from any external factors. Examples include discussions of personal responsibility or inherent traits.

Is there a difference between saying "the individual" and "the individual itself"?

Yes, while "the individual" is a general reference, "the individual itself" adds emphasis and specifies that the focus is solely on the intrinsic qualities or actions of that person, without considering external factors.