told herself

USAGE SUMMARY

"told herself" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that a person is talking to or reminding themselves of something. Example: She told herself to stay calm and focus on her breathing during the stressful situation.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

So easy, she told herself.

Independent

Come on, she told herself.

The New York Times - Magazine

She told herself to act cool.

The New Yorker

"This is insane," Felix told herself.

The New York Times - Sports

"The time is now," she told herself.

The New York Times

She told herself, "I'm doing it".

The New York Times - Sports

"Breathe," she told herself.

The Guardian - Books

"Bingo," Preston told herself.

The New York Times

Nod, she told herself.

The New Yorker

"I can't do that," she told herself.

The New York Times - Magazine

That's love, she told herself.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "told herself" to clearly indicate an internal dialogue or self-reassurance within a narrative. It helps to convey the character's thoughts and emotions directly to the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "told herself" when the character is speaking aloud to another person. This phrase should only be used for internal thoughts or self-address.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "told herself" functions as a reporting clause indicating internal monologue or self-directed thought. As Ludwig AI confirms, it shows a character's internal communication. Examples show how it introduces a character's thoughts or commands to themselves.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "told herself" is a very common and grammatically correct phrase used to denote a character's internal thoughts or self-reassurance. Ludwig AI validates this by confirming its correctness and frequent appearance in various contexts. The primary context for its use is news and media, and authoritative sources like The New York Times and The New Yorker often employ it. When writing, use "told herself" to vividly portray a character's inner world and decisions. If needed, alternatives such as "thought to herself" or "reminded herself" can provide subtle differences in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

said to herself

A more direct and literal alternative, using "said" instead of "told".

thought to herself

Replaces the verb "told" with "thought", emphasizing the internal nature of the communication.

reminded herself

Highlights the act of bringing something back to one's own memory.

muttered to herself

Indicates a quiet, often indistinct, way of speaking to oneself.

reasoned with herself

Highlights the logical process of self-persuasion or justification.

whispered internally

Indicates a very quiet or secretive way of speaking to oneself.

assured herself

Focuses on the act of providing reassurance or confidence to oneself.

convinced herself

Emphasizes the successful persuasion of oneself, often against doubt.

reflected inwardly

Suggests a deeper, more contemplative form of internal dialogue.

contemplated silently

Focuses on the quiet and thoughtful consideration of something.

FAQs

How can I use "told herself" in a sentence?

Use "told herself" when you want to indicate that a character is having an internal dialogue or is reassuring themselves. For example, "She "told herself" that everything would be alright, even though she was terrified".

What is a good alternative to "told herself"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "thought to herself", "reminded herself", or "said to herself" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it grammatically correct to say "told himself" instead of "told herself"?

Yes, "told himself" is grammatically correct. The pronoun should match the gender identity of the person speaking to themselves, so you could also say "told themselves".

What's the difference between "tell herself" and ""told herself""?

"Tell herself" is the infinitive form, while ""told herself"" is the past tense. Use ""told herself"" when describing something that has already happened.