Themselves vs. Themself: Choosing the Correct Pronoun
October 10, 2023 by JoyAnswer.org, Category : Language
What is correct, themselves or themself? Learn when to use "themselves" and "themself" in sentences and understand the grammatical rules that govern their usage.
What is correct, themselves or themself?
The choice between "themselves" and "themself" depends on the context and whether you are referring to a single individual or a group of people.
Themselves:
- "Themselves" is the correct pronoun to use when referring to a group of people or multiple individuals. It is the plural form of the reflexive pronoun "self." For example:
- "They washed themselves."
- "The team congratulated themselves on their victory."
- "Themselves" is the correct pronoun to use when referring to a group of people or multiple individuals. It is the plural form of the reflexive pronoun "self." For example:
Themself:
- "Themself" is less commonly used and is considered non-standard in most forms of English. However, it may be used in some dialects and contexts when referring to a singular individual who prefers "themself" as a gender-neutral pronoun. It is used as a singular reflexive pronoun. For example:
- "Taylor takes care of themself."
- "Themself" is less commonly used and is considered non-standard in most forms of English. However, it may be used in some dialects and contexts when referring to a singular individual who prefers "themself" as a gender-neutral pronoun. It is used as a singular reflexive pronoun. For example:
In general, "themselves" is the standard and widely accepted form for referring to a group of people or multiple individuals. "Themself" is a less common alternative used to refer to a singular individual who prefers gender-neutral pronouns. The use of "themself" for a singular individual is a matter of personal preference and may not be accepted in all linguistic contexts. Always respect an individual's chosen pronouns when using language.
The pronouns themselves and themself are both reflexive pronouns, meaning that they refer back to the subject of the sentence. However, there is some disagreement about when to use which pronoun.
Traditional grammar states that themselves should be used when the subject of the sentence is plural, and themself should be used when the subject of the sentence is singular. For example:
- The students injured themselves during gym class. (plural subject)
- The student injured themself during gym class. (singular subject)
Modern grammar allows for greater flexibility in the use of reflexive pronouns. Themself can now be used as a gender-neutral singular reflexive pronoun, regardless of the number of the subject. For example:
- The student injured themself during gym class. (singular subject)
- The group injured themselves during their workout. (plural subject)
Which pronoun to use depends on your personal preference and the style guide you are following. If you are unsure, it is always safe to use themselves.
Here are some examples of how to use themselves and themself in sentences:
- The students applied themselves to their studies.
- The teacher asked the students to introduce themselves.
- The student brought themself a snack.
- The group of friends bought themselves tickets to the concert.
