Language can be tricky, even for native speakers. You might have paused mid-sentence, wondering: should it be “She did it herself” or “It did itself”? Reflexive pronouns like self and itself often confuse writers and speakers alike. But once you understand their rules, usage becomes intuitive.
In this guide, we’ll break down what reflexive pronouns are, explain the differences between self and itself, cover common mistakes, and provide practical exercises to master their usage. By the end, you’ll feel confident in writing clear, natural sentences that sound human and polished.
What Are Reflexive Pronouns?
Reflexive pronouns are words like myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves. They are called reflexive because they refer back to the subject of the sentence.
Think of them as mirrors in grammar—they reflect the action of the subject back onto itself. For example:
- “I prepared myself for the interview.”
Here, myself refers back to I, the subject performing the action.
Reflexive pronouns are not just for clarity—they also add emphasis:
- “She herself solved the problem.”
Here’s a quick table of subjects and their corresponding reflexive pronouns:
| Subject | Reflexive Pronoun |
| I | myself |
| You | yourself |
| He | himself |
| She | herself |
| It | itself |
| We | ourselves |
| You all | yourselves |
| They | themselves |
Notice how each reflexive pronoun matches its subject in number and person. This is crucial to avoid grammatical mistakes.
Understanding ‘Self’
The word self appears in several forms in English. On its own, it’s often part of compound words, like self-esteem, self-awareness, or self-confidence. However, when attached to a pronoun, it forms a reflexive pronoun:
- “I did it myself.”
- “She blamed herself for the mistake.”
Self pronouns emphasize that the subject performed the action on its own. They’re also commonly used in formal or academic writing, particularly in discussions of personal responsibility, identity, or internal processes.
Practical Examples:
- Emphasis in action: “He himself completed the entire project.”
- Responsibility: “You must take care of yourself.”
- Compound concepts: “Self-discipline is crucial for long-term success.”
A small diagram can help visualize reflexive action:
Subject → Action → Reflexive Object
He → washed → himself
It → repaired → itself
This visual shows clearly who is doing what to whom, reducing confusion about pronoun usage.
Understanding ‘Itself’
The reflexive pronoun itself is used when the subject is inanimate, abstract, or an animal. Unlike himself or herself, which refer to people, itself refers to objects, concepts, or neutral entities.
Examples:
- “The cat cleaned itself after dinner.”
- “The problem solved itself over time.”
- “The computer restarted itself automatically.”
Key point: You cannot use himself or herself for inanimate objects or abstract ideas. Doing so is grammatically incorrect and can sound awkward:
❌ Wrong: “The machine fixed himself.”
✅ Correct: “The machine fixed itself.”
When dealing with plural objects, remember to switch to themselves:
- “The team corrected themselves after the error.”
Rules for Correct Usage
To avoid mistakes, follow these practical rules when using self or itself.
Rule 1: Match the reflexive pronoun to the subject
- The pronoun must reflect the subject in person and number.
Rule 2: Avoid unnecessary reflexive pronouns
- Some writers overuse them for emphasis or clarity.
- ❌ “Please explain it to myself.”
- ✅ “Please explain it to me.”
Rule 3: Use itself for neutral or inanimate subjects
- Animals, objects, and abstract ideas take itself, not himself/herself.
Rule 4: Don’t use reflexive pronouns as subjects
- Reflexive pronouns should always be objects of verbs or prepositions.
- ❌ “Myself completed the task.”
- ✅ “I completed the task myself.”
Quick table for reference:
| Subject Type | Correct Reflexive Pronoun | Common Mistake |
| Person | myself, yourself, etc. | itself, hisself |
| Inanimate/abstract | itself | himself, herself |
| Plural (people/objects) | ourselves, themselves | itself |
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Even experienced writers slip up with reflexive pronouns. Here are the most frequent pitfalls and how to fix them:
1. Using reflexive pronouns unnecessarily
- ❌ “I bought myself a gift.” (acceptable in casual speech)
- ✅ “I bought a gift.” (preferred in formal writing unless emphasizing self)
2. Confusing singular and plural forms
- ❌ “The teams congratulated itself.”
- ✅ “The teams congratulated themselves.”
3. Using incorrect pronouns for objects
- ❌ “The machine repaired himself.”
- ✅ “The machine repaired itself.”
4. Overusing self-compounds
- ❌ “Self-consciousness is a self-critical self-reflective trait.”
- ✅ “Self-consciousness involves critical self-reflection.”
Example Table: Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Correct Usage | Explanation |
| “The machine fixed myself.” | “The machine fixed itself.” | ‘Itself’ refers to inanimate object. |
| “I did it hisself.” | “I did it myself.” | ‘Hisself’ is incorrect; use ‘myself.’ |
| “The team did it itself.” | “The team did it themselves.” | Plural subject requires ‘themselves.’ |
| “Please explain it to myself.” | “Please explain it to me.” | Reflexive not needed; ‘me’ is correct object. |
Practical Tips for Writers
To avoid confusion and sound more natural, keep these tips in mind:
- Read sentences aloud. Hearing the words often exposes unnatural phrasing.
- Ask yourself: Does the reflexive pronoun refer back to the subject?
- Remember the animate vs inanimate rule: People → himself/herself; Objects/animals → itself.
- Use self-compounds carefully. Overuse can make writing seem formal or stilted.
- Create mental shortcuts:
- Animate → him/her/themselves
- Inanimate → itself
Read More: When I Can or When Can I? Understanding the Correct Usage
Fun Examples and Exercises
Practice is the fastest way to master reflexive pronouns. Try filling in the blanks:
- The dog washed ______.
- She taught ______ a new skill.
- The computer fixed ______ automatically.
- The students congratulated ______ after the project.
- I baked a cake by ______.
Answers with explanations:
- itself – The dog is an animal.
- herself – Referring to a female subject.
- itself – Computer is inanimate.
- themselves – Plural subject: students.
- myself – Referring back to “I” as subject.
These exercises illustrate how reflexive pronouns mirror the subject, reinforcing grammar rules in context.
Conclusion
Understanding self or itself boils down to three key principles:
- Identify the subject: human, animal, or inanimate.
- Match the reflexive pronoun correctly: myself, herself, itself, themselves, etc.
- Avoid unnecessary usage: reflexive pronouns are for emphasis or true reflexive actions.
Using reflexive pronouns correctly not only improves your grammar but also makes your writing sound confident, polished, and professional.
Next time you write or speak, pause and ask: “Does this pronoun reflect the subject correctly?” You’ll notice an immediate improvement in clarity and style.
Remember: mastering reflexive pronouns like self and itself turns ordinary sentences into precise, elegant, and human-sounding English.
