use ourselves

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "use ourselves" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where individuals are referring to their own actions or decisions, often in a reflective or self-referential manner. Example: "In order to grow, we must learn to use ourselves effectively in our personal and professional lives."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

In other words, there's only so much of us to go around, and we should use ourselves wisely.

Huffington Post

As we hear Becky's stream of justifications as to why she needs to buy that thing right now, we are in fact hearing justifications we use ourselves — and that, until recently, our consumer culture told us as well.

The New York Times

"It's a nice opportunity to use ourselves as a guinea pig," Mr. Sullivan said.

The New York Times

My wife, Kay, and I had been looking for an alternative investment, something other than stock, and we decided to buy a vacation home we could use ourselves, but rent out when we weren't there.

The New York Times - Travel

While "many of the signs posted on the ASL-STEM Forum are by Gallaudet students and faculty," Dr. Solomon said, and therefore are already in use on campus, there have been other signs "posted by non-Gallaudet users that we like better and have started to use ourselves".

The New York Times - Science

Every once in a while, a startup comes around with a product that we not only cover, but actually want to use ourselves.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

This is a service that we've used ourselves and plan on using again.

TechCrunch

"We're using ourselves as guinea pigs because we don't have any other options.

Vice

We started with the treatment we used ourselves in clinical practice, compared it with the literature and standardised it for this trial.

BMJ Open

The words we use define ourselves and the world around us.

Huffington Post

Do we use drugs ourselves?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, consider the context to ensure "use ourselves" accurately conveys the intended meaning. It's often best when emphasizing self-reliance or introspection.

Common error

Avoid using "use ourselves" when a simpler, non-reflexive verb is more appropriate. For example, instead of "We should use ourselves wisely", consider "We should act wisely".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "use ourselves" functions as a reflexive construction, indicating that the subject is both performing and receiving the action. Ludwig examples show this in contexts of self-application and utilizing personal resources.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "use ourselves" is grammatically sound and commonly employed across various contexts, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in writing. It typically conveys the idea of self-application or utilizing personal resources effectively. While alternatives like "utilize ourselves" or "apply ourselves" exist, the specific nuance of self-reliance or introspection often makes "use ourselves" the most fitting choice. When employing the phrase, ensure it aligns with the context and avoids unnecessary reflexive constructions, favoring clarity and directness in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utilize ourselves

This alternative directly replaces "use" with "utilize", maintaining a formal tone.

employ ourselves

Similar to "utilize", "employ" adds a nuance of purposeful engagement.

apply ourselves

"Apply" suggests directing effort or skills towards a specific goal.

devote ourselves

Emphasizes dedication and commitment in utilizing one's resources.

exercise our abilities

Focuses on actively employing one's skills and capabilities.

make use of our talents

Highlights the intentional application of innate abilities.

leverage our strengths

Implies maximizing the impact of one's strong points.

tap into our potential

Suggests accessing and utilizing latent or undeveloped capabilities.

exploit our resources

While "exploit" can have negative connotations, it also means to effectively use resources.

harness our capabilities

Implies controlling and directing one's abilities for a specific purpose.

FAQs

How can I appropriately "use ourselves" in a sentence?

The phrase "use ourselves" typically implies leveraging our own abilities, resources or qualities. For example, "We must "use ourselves" wisely to overcome challenges."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "use ourselves"?

Depending on the context, you could substitute "use ourselves" with phrases such as "apply ourselves", "utilize ourselves", or "employ ourselves".

Is it grammatically correct to say "use ourselves"?

Yes, "use ourselves" is grammatically correct. It functions as a reflexive phrase where the action of using is directed back to the subject.

When is it more appropriate to use "use ourselves" vs. a simpler verb?

Use "use ourselves" when you want to emphasize that the subject is both the actor and the recipient of the action. If the emphasis is simply on the action, a simpler verb like "act" or "work" might be more appropriate.