think yourself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "think yourself" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It means to use one's own thoughts or reasoning to come to a conclusion. Example: "Before you make a decision, think for yourself and consider all the options."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Do you ever catch yourself saying to your child: "I never got to do that, think yourself lucky young man/lady" or simply find yourself thinking often that your children get enviable opportunities that you never had?

WikiHow

"You think yourself in circles".

The New Yorker

Want to think yourself healthy?

The Guardian

"You can't think yourself into a streak.

The New York Times - Sports

Think yourself into a place where you feel sexy.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Does he believe you can think yourself into better health?

The Guardian

Your ability to think yourself into someone else?

The New York Times - Books

But you try to think yourself into a state of mind where people can do that".

The New York Times

But don't think yourself an ascetic for savoring such simple things, Graves added.

The New York Times - Travel

This instant, then, think yourself worthy of living as a man grown up, and a proficient.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"Think yourself what you might have eaten four and a half years ago," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "think yourself" to encourage independent thought and decision-making, especially when emphasizing personal responsibility or autonomy. Be mindful that this expression can sometimes sound slightly formal or old-fashioned.

Common error

Don't let "think yourself" become a passive suggestion. Ensure the sentence clearly indicates who should be doing the thinking and what the purpose of that thought is. Use active voice to maintain clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "think yourself" primarily functions as an imperative, urging the listener or reader to engage in self-reflection or independent thought. Ludwig examples highlight its use in encouraging personal judgment and perspective.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Wiki

12%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "think yourself" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that encourages independent thought and reflection. Ludwig's analysis of numerous examples confirms its varied usage across news, lifestyle, and academic contexts. While "think for yourself" may be a more direct alternative, "think yourself" maintains a unique nuance, prompting deeper personal judgment and empathy. Remember to use this phrase actively to encourage clear, impactful, and autonomous thinking.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

think for yourself

A more direct and concise alternative, emphasizing independent thought.

reflect on your own

Emphasizes introspection and personal contemplation, shifting the focus to internal thought processes.

consider your own perspective

Highlights the importance of one's individual viewpoint in the thinking process.

form your own opinion

Focuses on the outcome of independent thought, which is arriving at a personal belief or judgment.

assess for yourself

Stresses the act of evaluating or judging something independently.

decide on your own

Highlights the autonomy in making a decision based on personal thought.

reason independently

Emphasizes the use of one's own logic and reasoning abilities.

draw your own conclusions

Highlights the process of reaching a final judgment or understanding based on individual analysis.

come to your own understanding

Focuses on achieving a personal comprehension of something.

make up your own mind

Stresses the act of forming a firm decision or opinion independently.

FAQs

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

You can use "think yourself" to encourage reflection or independent judgment, as in "Think yourself lucky to have this opportunity" or "Before reacting, think yourself into her position to understand her motivations".

What's a more direct way to say "think yourself"?

A more direct and common alternative is "think for yourself", which emphasizes the act of independent thinking without relying on external influence.

When is it appropriate to use "think yourself" instead of "consider"?

"Think yourself" implies a deeper level of personal reflection and judgment, while "consider" is a more general term for taking something into account. Use "think yourself" when you want to emphasize the importance of individual thought and perspective.

Is "think yourself" always grammatically correct?

Yes, "think yourself" is grammatically correct when used in the imperative mood to encourage someone to engage in independent thought or reflection. The Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.