{"id":1722,"date":"2020-10-30T22:21:48","date_gmt":"2020-10-30T21:21:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.englishforums.com\/blog\/?p=1722"},"modified":"2026-08-08T11:11:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T11:11:42","slug":"themself-or-themselves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.englishforward.com\/blog\/themself-or-themselves\/","title":{"rendered":"Themself or Themselves: When To Use Each"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1 data-path-to-node=\"3\">Themself vs. Themselves: Rules, Meaning, and Correct Usage<\/h1>\n<blockquote data-path-to-node=\"4\">\n<p data-path-to-node=\"4,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"4,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Quick Summary:<\/b><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"4,1\"><b data-path-to-node=\"4,1\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">&#8220;Themselves&#8221;<\/b> is the standard plural reflexive pronoun used when referring back to a plural subject (e.g., <i data-path-to-node=\"4,1\" data-index-in-node=\"106\">&#8220;The students introduced themselves&#8221;<\/i>). <b data-path-to-node=\"4,1\" data-index-in-node=\"145\">&#8220;Themself&#8221;<\/b> is a singular reflexive pronoun used alongside the singular <i data-path-to-node=\"4,1\" data-index-in-node=\"216\">they<\/i> when referring to a single person whose gender is unknown or non-binary (e.g., <i data-path-to-node=\"4,1\" data-index-in-node=\"300\">&#8220;Each worker should clean up after themself&#8221;<\/i>). While traditional grammar long favored <i data-path-to-node=\"4,1\" data-index-in-node=\"386\">themselves<\/i> in all cases, modern style guides increasingly accept <i data-path-to-node=\"4,1\" data-index-in-node=\"451\">themself<\/i> for singular individuals.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"6\">Introduction: The Reflexive Pronoun Dilemma<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"7\">English pronouns are design features meant to streamline speech and writing. Instead of repeating a person&#8217;s name multiple times in a sentence, we replace it with words like <i data-path-to-node=\"7\" data-index-in-node=\"174\">he<\/i>, <i data-path-to-node=\"7\" data-index-in-node=\"178\">she<\/i>, <i data-path-to-node=\"7\" data-index-in-node=\"183\">they<\/i>, <i data-path-to-node=\"7\" data-index-in-node=\"189\">himself<\/i>, or <i data-path-to-node=\"7\" data-index-in-node=\"201\">themselves<\/i>.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"8\">However, reflexive pronouns can occasionally trigger confusion for native speakers and English language learners alike.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"9\">One of the most widely debated questions in modern English grammar is the distinction between <b data-path-to-node=\"9\" data-index-in-node=\"94\">&#8220;themself&#8221;<\/b> and <b data-path-to-node=\"9\" data-index-in-node=\"109\">&#8220;themselves.&#8221;<\/b> You might wonder:<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"10\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"10,0,0\"><i data-path-to-node=\"10,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Is &#8220;themself&#8221; actually a real English word, or is it a spelling error?<\/i><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"10,1,0\"><i data-path-to-node=\"10,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">When should I use &#8220;themselves&#8221; vs. &#8220;themself&#8221;?<\/i><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"10,2,0\"><i data-path-to-node=\"10,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Are words like &#8220;theirselves&#8221; or &#8220;theirself&#8221; ever grammatically correct?<\/i><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"11\">This comprehensive guide breaks down how reflexive pronouns work, explains the modern rise of singular <i data-path-to-node=\"11\" data-index-in-node=\"103\">they\/themself<\/i>, and provides clear rules to help you choose the right pronoun every time.<\/p>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"13\">What Is a Reflexive Pronoun?<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"14\">To understand &#8220;themself&#8221; and &#8220;themselves,&#8221; we first need to look at <b data-path-to-node=\"14\" data-index-in-node=\"68\">reflexive pronouns<\/b>.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"15\">A reflexive pronoun is used when the <b data-path-to-node=\"15\" data-index-in-node=\"37\">subject<\/b> and the <b data-path-to-node=\"15\" data-index-in-node=\"53\">object<\/b> of a sentence are the exact same person or thing. In other words, the action performed by the subject reflects right back onto that subject.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"16\">In English, all reflexive pronouns end in either <b data-path-to-node=\"16\" data-index-in-node=\"49\">-self<\/b> (for singular subjects) or <b data-path-to-node=\"16\" data-index-in-node=\"82\">-selves<\/b> (for plural subjects).<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block ng-tns-c2065955761-200 ng-animate-disabled ng-trigger ng-trigger-codeBlockRevealAnimation\" data-hveid=\"0\" data-ved=\"0CAAQhtANahgKEwi5mdvd64-WAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQlQY\">\n<div class=\"formatted-code-block-internal-container ng-tns-c2065955761-200\">\n<div class=\"animated-opacity ng-tns-c2065955761-200\">\n<pre class=\"ng-tns-c2065955761-200\"><code class=\"code-container formatted ng-tns-c2065955761-200 no-decoration-radius\" role=\"text\" data-test-id=\"code-content\">Singular vs. Plural Reflexive Pronoun Alignment:\r\n\r\n  SINGULAR (-self):   myself  | yourself | himself | herself | itself | themself\r\n  PLURAL   (-selves): ourselves | yourselves | themselves\r\n<\/code><\/pre>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"18\">Singular vs. Plural Reflexive Pronoun Chart<\/h3>\n<table data-path-to-node=\"19\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Personal Pronoun<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Reflexive Pronoun<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Singular or Plural?<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Example Sentence<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"19,1,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"19,1,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">I<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"19,1,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"19,1,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Myself<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"19,1,2,0\">Singular<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"19,1,3,0\"><i data-path-to-node=\"19,1,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">&#8220;I taught myself how to play guitar.&#8221;<\/i><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"19,2,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"19,2,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">You<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"19,2,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"19,2,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Yourself<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"19,2,2,0\">Singular (One person)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"19,2,3,0\"><i data-path-to-node=\"19,2,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">&#8220;Please introduce yourself.&#8221;<\/i><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"19,3,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"19,3,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">He \/ She \/ It<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"19,3,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"19,3,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Himself \/ Herself \/ Itself<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"19,3,2,0\">Singular<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"19,3,3,0\"><i data-path-to-node=\"19,3,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">&#8220;The cat cleaned itself.&#8221;<\/i><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"19,4,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"19,4,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">They (Singular)<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"19,4,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"19,4,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Themself<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"19,4,2,0\">Singular (One person)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"19,4,3,0\"><i data-path-to-node=\"19,4,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">&#8220;A learner should pace themself.&#8221;<\/i><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"19,5,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"19,5,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">We<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"19,5,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"19,5,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Ourselves<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"19,5,2,0\">Plural<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"19,5,3,0\"><i data-path-to-node=\"19,5,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">&#8220;We organized the conference ourselves.&#8221;<\/i><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"19,6,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"19,6,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">You (Group)<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"19,6,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"19,6,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Yourselves<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"19,6,2,0\">Plural (Multiple people)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"19,6,3,0\"><i data-path-to-node=\"19,6,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">&#8220;Help yourselves to some food!&#8221;<\/i><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"19,7,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"19,7,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">They (Plural)<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"19,7,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"19,7,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Themselves<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"19,7,2,0\">Plural (Multiple people)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"19,7,3,0\"><i data-path-to-node=\"19,7,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">&#8220;The children played by themselves.&#8221;<\/i><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"21\">When to Use &#8220;Themselves&#8221; (Plural Reflexive)<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"22\"><b data-path-to-node=\"22\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">&#8220;Themselves&#8221;<\/b> is the established, universally accepted plural reflexive pronoun. Whenever your subject refers to two or more people, animals, objects, or concepts, you must use <b data-path-to-node=\"22\" data-index-in-node=\"176\">themselves<\/b>.<\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"23\">1. Standard Reflexive Actions (Plural Subject)<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"24\">When a group performs an action on or for that same group, use &#8220;themselves&#8221;:<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"25\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"25,0,0\"><i data-path-to-node=\"25,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">&#8220;The pilots strapped <b data-path-to-node=\"25,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"21\">themselves<\/b> in for the long flight to the space station.&#8221;<\/i><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"25,1,0\"><i data-path-to-node=\"25,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">&#8220;The kids dirtying the surrounding tables should clean up after <b data-path-to-node=\"25,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"64\">themselves<\/b>.&#8221;<\/i><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"25,2,0\"><i data-path-to-node=\"25,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">&#8220;Pictures from the movie kept replaying <b data-path-to-node=\"25,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"40\">themselves<\/b> in her head.&#8221;<\/i><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"25,3,0\"><i data-path-to-node=\"25,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">&#8220;The campers found <b data-path-to-node=\"25,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"19\">themselves<\/b> lost in the forest.&#8221;<\/i><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"26\">2. Intensive \/ Emphatic Usage<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"27\">Sometimes, a pronoun is added right after a noun phrase simply to add dramatic emphasis. This is called an <b data-path-to-node=\"27\" data-index-in-node=\"107\">intensive pronoun<\/b>:<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"28\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"28,0,0\"><i data-path-to-node=\"28,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">&#8220;The students <b data-path-to-node=\"28,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"14\">themselves<\/b> were surprised by the high exam rankings.&#8221;<\/i><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"28,1,0\"><i data-path-to-node=\"28,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">&#8220;Politicians <b data-path-to-node=\"28,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"13\">themselves<\/b> sometimes have a difficult time explaining complex policies.&#8221;<\/i><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"28,2,0\"><i data-path-to-node=\"28,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">&#8220;The economies <b data-path-to-node=\"28,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"15\">themselves<\/b> will see a rebound once trade reopens.&#8221;<\/i><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"30\">Is &#8220;Themself&#8221; a Real Word? (The Singular &#8220;They&#8221; Dilemma)<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"31\">The word <b data-path-to-node=\"31\" data-index-in-node=\"9\">&#8220;themself&#8221;<\/b> has an interesting history. It was actually present in Middle English centuries ago before falling out of standard usage in favor of &#8220;themselves.&#8221; Today, &#8220;themself&#8221; has experienced a major resurgence due to the evolution of the <b data-path-to-node=\"31\" data-index-in-node=\"248\">singular &#8220;they.&#8221;<\/b><\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"32\">How Gender-Neutral Language Created a Need for &#8220;Themself&#8221;<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"33\">In modern English, we frequently use <i data-path-to-node=\"33\" data-index-in-node=\"37\">they<\/i>, <i data-path-to-node=\"33\" data-index-in-node=\"43\">them<\/i>, and <i data-path-to-node=\"33\" data-index-in-node=\"53\">their<\/i> to refer to a single individual whose gender is either unknown, irrelevant, or non-binary.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"34\">For example:<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"35\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"35,0,0\"><i data-path-to-node=\"35,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">&#8220;If a coworker is causing problems, report <b data-path-to-node=\"35,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"43\">them<\/b> to the manager.&#8221;<\/i><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"35,1,0\"><i data-path-to-node=\"35,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">&#8220;The delivery person arrived so quickly that I gave <b data-path-to-node=\"35,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"52\">them<\/b> an extra tip.&#8221;<\/i><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"36\">Historically, when paired with a singular subject, traditional grammarians forced writers to use <b data-path-to-node=\"36\" data-index-in-node=\"97\">themselves<\/b> (e.g., <i data-path-to-node=\"36\" data-index-in-node=\"115\">&#8220;Everyone should prepare themselves&#8221;<\/i>) or the clunky phrase <b data-path-to-node=\"36\" data-index-in-node=\"174\">himself or herself<\/b> (e.g., <i data-path-to-node=\"36\" data-index-in-node=\"200\">&#8220;Everyone should prepare himself or herself&#8221;<\/i>).<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"37\">However, because words like <i data-path-to-node=\"37\" data-index-in-node=\"28\">himself<\/i> or <i data-path-to-node=\"37\" data-index-in-node=\"39\">yourself<\/i> use the singular ending <b data-path-to-node=\"37\" data-index-in-node=\"72\">-self<\/b>, pairing singular <i data-path-to-node=\"37\" data-index-in-node=\"96\">they<\/i> with the plural ending <b data-path-to-node=\"37\" data-index-in-node=\"124\">-selves<\/b> creates a logical mismatch:<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block ng-tns-c2065955761-201 ng-animate-disabled ng-trigger ng-trigger-codeBlockRevealAnimation\" data-hveid=\"0\" data-ved=\"0CAAQhtANahgKEwi5mdvd64-WAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQmAY\">\n<div class=\"formatted-code-block-internal-container ng-tns-c2065955761-201\">\n<div class=\"animated-opacity ng-tns-c2065955761-201\">\n<pre class=\"ng-tns-c2065955761-201\"><code class=\"code-container formatted ng-tns-c2065955761-201 no-decoration-radius\" role=\"text\" data-test-id=\"code-content\">Grammatical Logic Mismatch:\r\n\r\n  [ Singular Person ] + [ Plural Ending ] ---&gt; \"A person can do it themselves.\" (Mixed number)\r\n  [ Singular Person ] + [ Singular Ending] ---&gt; \"A person can do it themself.\"   (Matched number)\r\n<\/code><\/pre>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"39\">Current Status of &#8220;Themself&#8221; in Dictionaries &amp; Style Guides<\/h3>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"40\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"40,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"40,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Merriam-Webster &amp; Oxford English Dictionary:<\/b> Both recognize <b data-path-to-node=\"40,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"60\">themself<\/b> as a standard singular reflexive pronoun paired with singular <i data-path-to-node=\"40,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"131\">they<\/i>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"40,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"40,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">APA &amp; MLA Style Guides:<\/b> Accept <b data-path-to-node=\"40,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"31\">themself<\/b> when writing about a specific non-binary individual who uses <i data-path-to-node=\"40,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"101\">they\/them<\/i> pronouns or when referring to a general singular person.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"40,2,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"40,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Formal \/ Traditional Academic Contexts:<\/b> Some conservative editors still prefer using <b data-path-to-node=\"40,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"85\">themselves<\/b> or rephrasing the sentence to avoid the issue entirely.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"42\">Common Non-Standard Errors: &#8220;Theirselves&#8221; and &#8220;Theirself&#8221;<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"43\">While <i data-path-to-node=\"43\" data-index-in-node=\"6\">themselves<\/i> and <i data-path-to-node=\"43\" data-index-in-node=\"21\">themself<\/i> are legitimate English words, you may occasionally hear expressions like <b data-path-to-node=\"43\" data-index-in-node=\"103\">&#8220;theirselves&#8221;<\/b>, <b data-path-to-node=\"43\" data-index-in-node=\"118\">&#8220;theirself&#8221;<\/b>, or <b data-path-to-node=\"43\" data-index-in-node=\"134\">&#8220;themselve&#8221;<\/b>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block ng-tns-c2065955761-202 ng-animate-disabled ng-trigger ng-trigger-codeBlockRevealAnimation\" data-hveid=\"0\" data-ved=\"0CAAQhtANahgKEwi5mdvd64-WAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQmQY\">\n<div class=\"formatted-code-block-internal-container ng-tns-c2065955761-202\">\n<div class=\"animated-opacity ng-tns-c2065955761-202\">\n<pre class=\"ng-tns-c2065955761-202\"><code class=\"code-container formatted ng-tns-c2065955761-202 no-decoration-radius\" role=\"text\" data-test-id=\"code-content\">Standard vs. Non-Standard Spelling:\r\n\r\n  [ Correct Standard ] ---&gt; themselves  |  themself\r\n  [ Incorrect\/Dialect] ---&gt; theirselves |  theirself  |  themselve\r\n<\/code><\/pre>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"45\">Why &#8220;Theirselves&#8221; Is Incorrect<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"46\">English reflexive pronouns are formed using either <b data-path-to-node=\"46\" data-index-in-node=\"51\">objective pronouns<\/b> (<i data-path-to-node=\"46\" data-index-in-node=\"71\">him<\/i> + <i data-path-to-node=\"46\" data-index-in-node=\"77\">self<\/i> = <i data-path-to-node=\"46\" data-index-in-node=\"84\">himself<\/i>, <i data-path-to-node=\"46\" data-index-in-node=\"93\">them<\/i> + <i data-path-to-node=\"46\" data-index-in-node=\"100\">selves<\/i> = <i data-path-to-node=\"46\" data-index-in-node=\"109\">themselves<\/i>) or <b data-path-to-node=\"46\" data-index-in-node=\"124\">possessive pronouns<\/b> (<i data-path-to-node=\"46\" data-index-in-node=\"145\">my<\/i> + <i data-path-to-node=\"46\" data-index-in-node=\"150\">self<\/i> = <i data-path-to-node=\"46\" data-index-in-node=\"157\">myself<\/i>, <i data-path-to-node=\"46\" data-index-in-node=\"165\">our<\/i> + <i data-path-to-node=\"46\" data-index-in-node=\"171\">selves<\/i> = <i data-path-to-node=\"46\" data-index-in-node=\"180\">ourselves<\/i>).<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"47\">Because the third-person plural form built on <i data-path-to-node=\"47\" data-index-in-node=\"46\">them<\/i> (<i data-path-to-node=\"47\" data-index-in-node=\"52\">themselves<\/i>), using <i data-path-to-node=\"47\" data-index-in-node=\"71\">their<\/i> to create <i data-path-to-node=\"47\" data-index-in-node=\"87\">&#8220;theirselves&#8221;<\/i> or <i data-path-to-node=\"47\" data-index-in-node=\"104\">&#8220;theirself&#8221;<\/i> is considered a dialectal error or non-standard spelling. You should always replace &#8220;theirselves&#8221; with <b data-path-to-node=\"47\" data-index-in-node=\"219\">themselves<\/b> in formal speech and writing.<\/p>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"49\">Special Clarifications and Common Questions<\/h2>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"50\">1. Is &#8220;His or Herself&#8221; Correct?<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"51\">While you can say <i data-path-to-node=\"51\" data-index-in-node=\"18\">&#8220;his or her&#8221;<\/i> (e.g., <i data-path-to-node=\"51\" data-index-in-node=\"38\">&#8220;Every student must bring his or her notebook&#8221;<\/i>), combining possessive <i data-path-to-node=\"51\" data-index-in-node=\"108\">his<\/i> with reflexive <i data-path-to-node=\"51\" data-index-in-node=\"127\">herself<\/i> is incorrect. You should say <b data-path-to-node=\"51\" data-index-in-node=\"164\">&#8220;himself or herself&#8221;<\/b> (e.g., <i data-path-to-node=\"51\" data-index-in-node=\"192\">&#8220;Each candidate must present himself or herself&#8221;<\/i>). However, in modern English, writing <i data-path-to-node=\"51\" data-index-in-node=\"279\">&#8220;themself&#8221;<\/i> or rephrasing to a plural subject (<i data-path-to-node=\"51\" data-index-in-node=\"325\">&#8220;All candidates must present themselves&#8221;<\/i>) is much smoother.<\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"52\">2. Is &#8220;Anyone&#8221; Singular or Plural?<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"53\">Indefinite pronouns like <b data-path-to-node=\"53\" data-index-in-node=\"25\">anyone<\/b>, <b data-path-to-node=\"53\" data-index-in-node=\"33\">someone<\/b>, <b data-path-to-node=\"53\" data-index-in-node=\"42\">everyone<\/b>, <b data-path-to-node=\"53\" data-index-in-node=\"52\">anybody<\/b>, and <b data-path-to-node=\"53\" data-index-in-node=\"65\">nobody<\/b> are grammatically <b data-path-to-node=\"53\" data-index-in-node=\"90\">singular<\/b>.<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"54\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"54,0,0\"><i data-path-to-node=\"54,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Correct Verb Agreement:<\/i> <i data-path-to-node=\"54,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"24\">&#8220;Is anyone available?&#8221;<\/i> (Not <i data-path-to-node=\"54,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"52\">&#8220;Are anyone available?&#8221;<\/i>).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"54,1,0\"><i data-path-to-node=\"54,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Reflexive Pronoun Choice:<\/i> <i data-path-to-node=\"54,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"26\">&#8220;Everyone who guessed the correct answer can congratulate <b data-path-to-node=\"54,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"84\">themself<\/b>&#8220;<\/i> (or <i data-path-to-node=\"54,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"98\">&#8220;themselves&#8221;<\/i> in traditional formal style).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"55\">3. Can You Say &#8220;They Themselves&#8221;?<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"56\">Yes. Saying <i data-path-to-node=\"56\" data-index-in-node=\"12\">&#8220;They themselves&#8221;<\/i> is an intensive pronoun construction used for strong emphasis (e.g., <i data-path-to-node=\"56\" data-index-in-node=\"99\">&#8220;They themselves admitted the mistake&#8221;<\/i>). While it can occasionally sound slightly wordy, it is completely valid in formal English.<\/p>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"58\">Summary Comparison Table<\/h2>\n<table data-path-to-node=\"59\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Word<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Grammatical Status<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Target Subject<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Example Sentence<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"59,1,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"59,1,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Themselves<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"59,1,1,0\">Standard &amp; Universal<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"59,1,2,0\">Plural subjects (<i data-path-to-node=\"59,1,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"17\">They \/ Group<\/i>)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"59,1,3,0\"><i data-path-to-node=\"59,1,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">&#8220;The players rewarded <b data-path-to-node=\"59,1,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"22\">themselves<\/b> after winning.&#8221;<\/i><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"59,2,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"59,2,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Themself<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"59,2,1,0\">Standard (Modern Usage)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"59,2,2,0\">Singular subject (<i data-path-to-node=\"59,2,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"18\">Singular They<\/i>)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"59,2,3,0\"><i data-path-to-node=\"59,2,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">&#8220;A good leader knows how to pace <b data-path-to-node=\"59,2,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"33\">themself<\/b>.&#8221;<\/i><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"59,3,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"59,3,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Theirselves<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"59,3,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"59,3,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Non-Standard<\/b> (Incorrect)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"59,3,2,0\">None<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"59,3,3,0\"><i data-path-to-node=\"59,3,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Incorrect form of &#8216;themselves&#8217;.<\/i><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"59,4,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"59,4,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Himself \/ Herself<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"59,4,1,0\">Standard &amp; Formal<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"59,4,2,0\">Gendered singular subjects<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-path-to-node=\"59,4,3,0\"><i data-path-to-node=\"59,4,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">&#8220;She decided to complete the project <b data-path-to-node=\"59,4,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"37\">herself<\/b>.&#8221;<\/i><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"61\">Practice Exercise: Test Your Knowledge<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"62\">Select the correct reflexive pronoun to complete each sentence:<\/p>\n<ol start=\"1\" data-path-to-node=\"63\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"63,0,0\"><i data-path-to-node=\"63,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">The team members worked tirelessly to prepare ________ for the championship.<\/i><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"63,0,1\">a) theirselves<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"63,0,2\">b) themselves<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"63,0,3\">c) themself<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"63,1,0\"><i data-path-to-node=\"63,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">If an applicant has any questions, they should feel free to introduce ________ at the front desk.<\/i><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"63,1,1\">a) themself<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"63,1,2\">b) theirself<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"63,1,3\">c) themselve<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"63,2,0\"><i data-path-to-node=\"63,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Which of the following forms is universally classified as a non-standard spelling error?<\/i><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"63,2,1\">a) Themselves<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"63,2,2\">b) Themself<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"63,2,3\">c) Theirselves<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"64\"><i data-path-to-node=\"64\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">(Answers: 1 = b, 2 = a, 3 = c)<\/i><\/p>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"66\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"67\">Can I use &#8220;themself&#8221; in formal academic papers?<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"68\">In APA, MLA, and Chicago styles, &#8220;themself&#8221; is permitted when referring to a specific individual who uses <i data-path-to-node=\"68\" data-index-in-node=\"106\">they\/them<\/i> pronouns or when paired with a singular indefinite pronoun. However, if you are unsure of a publisher&#8217;s preference, you can easily rephrase sentences using plural subjects (e.g., <i data-path-to-node=\"68\" data-index-in-node=\"295\">&#8220;People should help themselves&#8221;<\/i> instead of <i data-path-to-node=\"68\" data-index-in-node=\"338\">&#8220;A person should help themself&#8221;<\/i>).<\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"69\">Why isn&#8217;t &#8220;theirselves&#8221; a recognized word?<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"70\">In standard English grammar, third-person reflexive pronouns are built using the object pronoun <i data-path-to-node=\"70\" data-index-in-node=\"96\">them<\/i> (<i data-path-to-node=\"70\" data-index-in-node=\"102\">them<\/i> + <i data-path-to-node=\"70\" data-index-in-node=\"109\">selves<\/i> = <i data-path-to-node=\"70\" data-index-in-node=\"118\">themselves<\/i>, <i data-path-to-node=\"70\" data-index-in-node=\"130\">them<\/i> + <i data-path-to-node=\"70\" data-index-in-node=\"137\">self<\/i> = <i data-path-to-node=\"70\" data-index-in-node=\"144\">themself<\/i>), rather than the possessive form <i data-path-to-node=\"70\" data-index-in-node=\"187\">their<\/i>. Therefore, &#8220;theirselves&#8221; is non-standard.<\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"71\">What is the difference between an intensive pronoun and a reflexive pronoun?<\/h3>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"72\">A reflexive pronoun is essential to the sentence because the subject acts upon itself (e.g., <i data-path-to-node=\"72\" data-index-in-node=\"93\">&#8220;She taught herself&#8221;<\/i>). An intensive pronoun simply adds dramatic emphasis to a subject and can be removed without making the sentence ungrammatical (e.g., <i data-path-to-node=\"72\" data-index-in-node=\"248\">&#8220;The president <b data-path-to-node=\"72\" data-index-in-node=\"263\">himself<\/b> visited the city&#8221;<\/i>).<\/p>\n<h2 data-path-to-node=\"74\">Master English Pronouns and Grammar<\/h2>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"75\">Navigating subtle language choices like <b data-path-to-node=\"75\" data-index-in-node=\"40\">&#8220;themself vs. themselves&#8221;<\/b> demonstrates advanced awareness of modern English grammar trends and formal usage.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"76\">To continue polishing your understanding of pronouns, prepositions, and sentence structures, explore our full library of guides on the <b data-path-to-node=\"76\" data-index-in-node=\"135\"><a class=\"ng-star-inserted\" href=\"https:\/\/www.englishforward.com\/blog\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hveid=\"0\" data-ved=\"0CAAQ_4QMahgKEwi5mdvd64-WAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQnAY\">English Forward Grammar Hub<\/a><\/b>.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"77\">Have a question about reflexive pronouns or sentence construction? Share your draft in the <b data-path-to-node=\"77\" data-index-in-node=\"91\"><a class=\"ng-star-inserted\" href=\"https:\/\/www.englishforward.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hveid=\"0\" data-ved=\"0CAAQ_4QMahgKEwi5mdvd64-WAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQnQY\">English Forward Language Community Forum<\/a><\/b> to get helpful feedback from native speakers and certified ESL educators!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Themself vs. Themselves: Rules, Meaning, and Correct Usage Quick Summary: &#8220;Themselves&#8221; is the standard plural reflexive pronoun used when referring back to a plural subject &#8230; <a title=\"Themself or Themselves: When To Use Each\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.englishforward.com\/blog\/themself-or-themselves\/\" aria-label=\"More on Themself or Themselves: When To Use Each\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1799,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_generate-full-width-content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[292],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1722","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-grammar","infinite-scroll-item","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Themself or Themselves: When To Use Each - English Forward<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Is &#039;themself&#039; a real word? 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