yourselves

USAGE SUMMARY

'yourselves' is correct in written English.
You can use it as a reflexive pronoun when the subject of the sentence is referring to itself. Example: Yourselves should be enough to carry the load.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Steel yourselves readers, for now we venture into one of the internet's darkest and bleakest corners: the grim realm of the unbearably twee, celebrity-endorsed lifestyle website.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Please do not let yourselves be used by a despot.

The Guardian

The capacity and willingness to drive people along with the use of the pitchfork of threatened redundancy or the flaming torch of disciplinary action does not make a leader and the mere fact that you so brazenly call yourselves leaders is evidence of the malaise that prompts me to write.

The Guardian

For now, content yourselves with the following sequence of real-life events, which took place a few days ago: 1.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

You break your own rules and make it up as you go along to suit yourselves.

The Guardian

And if it's not just to spite men, good luck to you on your own private little endeavour and just keep it to yourselves".

The Guardian - Opinion

Brace yourselves for losses in next May's local elections as Lib Dem supporters feel the pain of spending cuts, he warned them at the weekend.

The Guardian

Dear leaders, I address you as "leaders" because, for some reason (perhaps manager comes too close to rhyming with janitor for your liking), you've increasingly taken to styling yourselves in this way.

The Guardian

If my ass can threaten outdated ideas of masculinity, then prepare yourselves for a long summer, sexists: I'm wearing my short-shorts everywhere.

The Guardian - Opinion

As the men waited more than 15 minutes for the videolink to connect properly, Perkins asked the clerk: "Can you ask the judge and yourselves to come down to Belmarsh so we can have tea together?" The raid over the Easter weekend involved a break-in at the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Company in London's jewellery quarter.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

To those who argued that they had contributed votes to his election victory he responded, "Don't deceive yourselves those votes belong to Chávez".

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "yourselves" when the people being addressed are also the ones performing the action. For instance, "Help yourselves to the buffet" correctly uses "yourselves" because the people being addressed are helping themselves.

Common error

Avoid using "yourself" when addressing a group. "Yourself" is singular. The correct plural form is "yourselves", like in "Did you all enjoy yourselves?".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "yourselves" is as a reflexive pronoun, indicating that the action of the verb reflects back upon the subject. It is also used as an intensive pronoun to emphasize the subject. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "yourselves" functions as a reflexive or intensive pronoun, primarily used when the plural "you" is both the subject and object of a verb. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and frequently found in news and formal communication. While versatile, writers should avoid confusing it with "yourself", which is singular. Employing "yourselves" correctly ensures clarity and precision, especially in direct address. By understanding its function and context, writers can effectively use "yourselves" to create clear and impactful sentences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

you all

Uses a more direct and less formal pronoun.

the group of you

Specifies the group being addressed.

each of you

Emphasizes individual responsibility within the group.

you personally

Focuses on the individual's action within a group.

the people in front of me

Replaces the pronoun with a descriptive phrase.

you folks

Uses a colloquial term to address a group.

the assembled individuals

Offers a formal alternative.

you lot

A British English alternative for a group.

all of you present

Highlights the presence of the group being addressed.

every one of you

Stresses that no one is excluded from the group.

FAQs

How is "yourselves" used in a sentence?

"Yourselves" is a reflexive pronoun used when the object of a verb is the same as the subject, referring to a plural "you". For example, "Did you all enjoy yourselves at the party?"

When should I use "yourselves" versus "yourself"?

Use "yourself" when referring to a single person, and "yourselves" when referring to multiple people. Example: "Help yourself" (one person) vs. "Help yourselves" (multiple people).

What's the difference between "themselves" and "yourselves"?

"Yourselves" is used when the subject is "you" (plural), while "themselves" is used when the subject is "they". For example, "You should be proud of yourselves," versus "They should be proud of themselves."

Can I use "yourselves" in formal writing?

Yes, "yourselves" is appropriate in formal writing when addressing a group directly. For example, "We encourage you to familiarize yourselves with the new guidelines."