Ourselves vs Ourself: Which One Is Correct? 🤔 Complete Grammar Guide
Have you ever written a sentence like “We should trust ourself” and suddenly paused, wondering if something felt wrong? You are not alone. English has many small grammar details that can create confusion, and one of them is Ourselves vs Ourself.
At first glance, both words seem similar. After all, ourself and ourselves come from the same root pronoun: our. The difference appears to be just one little -ves ending. Yet that small change creates a major shift in grammar.
Many writers, students, and even native speakers occasionally hesitate when choosing between these terms. Fast typing, autocorrect, and lack of grammar awareness can make the confusion even worse. 📱
Understanding Ourselves vs Ourself matters because using the wrong reflexive pronoun can make sentences sound unnatural or grammatically incorrect. Fortunately, the rule is simpler than many people think.
This guide explains everything clearly—from meanings and examples to grammar rules, real-life usage, FAQs, and practical tips.
Quick Answer: Ourselves vs Ourself ⚡
Ourselves is the standard reflexive pronoun used with we because we is plural.
Ourself is rare and generally considered nonstandard in everyday English. It may occasionally appear when we refers to a single person speaking formally or institutionally.
Example:
✅ We prepared ourselves for the meeting.
❌ We prepared ourself for the meeting.
Understanding the Basics of Ourselves vs Ourself
The difference comes down to number agreement.
The pronoun we is usually plural. Because of this, the reflexive form should also be plural:
→ ourselves
Comparison Table
| Form | Type | Meaning | Example | Correct/Incorrect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ourselves | Reflexive pronoun | Refers back to “we” | We enjoyed ourselves. | ✅ Correct |
| Ourself | Rare reflexive pronoun | Occasionally used for singular institutional “we” | We, the committee, consider ourself responsible. | Rare/Special use |
| Ourselves | Emphatic pronoun | Adds emphasis | We ourselves completed it. | ✅ Correct |
| Ourself | Everyday replacement for ourselves | Incorrect in normal use | We taught ourself coding. | ❌ Incorrect |
The key takeaway:
👉 Most of the time, use ourselves.
Correct Meanings and Uses
Using “Ourselves” as a Reflexive Pronoun
A reflexive pronoun points back to the subject.
Since we is plural, the matching reflexive pronoun becomes ourselves.
Examples:
✅ We taught ourselves Spanish.
Sentence breakdown:
- Subject: We
- Action: taught
- Receiver of action: ourselves
The action returns to the same group.
Another example:
✅ We reminded ourselves to stay calm.
The group performed the action and received the action.
Test Tip 📝
Replace we with another plural subject:
The students taught themselves.
If themselves sounds correct, ourselves probably is too.
Using “Ourselves” for Emphasis
Sometimes reflexive pronouns do not reflect action. Instead, they emphasize the subject.
Examples:
✅ We ourselves created this project.
Meaning:
Nobody else did it.
Another example:
✅ We ourselves witnessed the event.
The word adds emphasis.
The Rare Use of “Ourself”
Now for the unusual case.
Ourself exists but appears only in limited situations.
Historically, kings, queens, editors, or institutions sometimes used a singular we.
Examples:
“We consider ourself obligated…”
Here, we represents one entity speaking with authority.
Modern readers rarely use this structure.
Test Tip 📝
Ask:
“Am I referring to multiple people?”
If yes:
Use ourselves.
Case Study Section 📧
Imagine a workplace email.
Incorrect:
“We believe ourself capable of handling the project.”
This sounds awkward.
Correct:
“We believe ourselves capable of handling the project.”
Why?
Because we refers to several team members.
Now imagine a company statement:
“We, the organization, consider ourself responsible for this decision.”
This is a rare institutional use.
Most businesses still prefer:
“We consider ourselves responsible.”
Grammar Rules Explanation
Traditional grammar rules state that reflexive pronouns must match the subject in both person and number.
Examples:
| Subject | Reflexive Pronoun |
|---|---|
| I | myself |
| You | yourself |
| He | himself |
| She | herself |
| It | itself |
| We | ourselves |
| They | themselves |
Because we is plural, grammar authorities generally recommend ourselves.
Standard dictionaries and grammar references explain that ourself survives mainly in specialized or historical usage.
The modern pattern is straightforward:
Plural subject → plural reflexive pronoun.
Why Ourselves Is Correct and Ourself Usually Isn’t
English relies on agreement patterns.
Think of it this way:
Singular → singular form
Plural → plural form
Examples:
✅ I helped myself.
✅ They helped themselves.
✅ We helped ourselves.
Notice the pattern?
Changing to ourself breaks the structure.
❌ We helped ourself.
It sounds grammatically incomplete because the plural marker disappears.
Common Mistakes People Make 🚫
Why do these mistakes happen?
Several reasons cause confusion:
Fast typing
People often skip endings.
Autocorrect
Devices sometimes replace words incorrectly.
Lack of knowledge
Many users have never studied reflexive pronouns in detail.
Similar-looking words
Ourself visually resembles yourself and myself.
That can trick the brain.
Similar Grammar Confusions Table
| Confusing Pair | Correct Usage |
|---|---|
| It’s / Its | It’s = it is; its = possession |
| Your / You’re | Your = ownership; you’re = you are |
| Their / There | Different meanings |
| Affect / Effect | Verb vs noun |
| Ourselves / Ourself | Usually use ourselves |
Sentence Examples: Correct vs Incorrect
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| We prepared ourself. | We prepared ourselves. |
| We taught ourself coding. | We taught ourselves coding. |
| We congratulated ourself. | We congratulated ourselves. |
| We reminded ourself. | We reminded ourselves. |
Seeing patterns repeatedly helps memory.
Usage in Different Contexts
Everyday Conversation 🗣️
People naturally use ourselves.
Examples:
“We should treat ourselves today.”
“We introduced ourselves.”
Professional Writing 💼
Business communication values grammar accuracy.
Correct:
“We found ourselves facing challenges.”
Incorrect:
“We found ourself facing challenges.”
Professional writing should follow standard conventions.
Creative Writing ✍️
Creative authors occasionally break rules for style.
A character might intentionally say:
“We see ourself as different.”
This can reveal personality or unusual speech patterns.
Still, standard grammar favors ourselves.
Social Media and Texting 📱
Quick typing causes mistakes.
People write rapidly and skip endings.
Example:
“We got ourself into trouble 😂”
This appears online, but formal grammar still recommends:
“We got ourselves into trouble 😂”
Why It Matters 🌟
Grammar is more than memorizing rules.
Correct word choice improves:
Clarity in communication
Readers instantly understand your meaning.
Professionalism
Strong grammar builds trust.
Writing accuracy
Clear writing prevents confusion.
Better digital communication
Emails, posts, and messages look polished.
Consider this quote:
“Good grammar is the foundation of clear communication.”
Small corrections create stronger writing.
Special Exception
There is one noteworthy exception.
Some organizations, institutions, editors, or formal bodies may use ourself when speaking as one unified entity.
Example:
“We regard ourself as accountable.”
This style is uncommon and sounds formal or old-fashioned.
Modern writing still strongly favors ourselves.
Quick Recap Checklist ✅
| Question | If Yes → Use |
|---|---|
| Is “we” referring to multiple people? | Ourselves |
| Is it everyday English? | Ourselves |
| Is it professional writing? | Ourselves |
| Is it a rare institutional singular “we”? | Possibly ourself |
| Are you unsure? | Ourselves |
Practice Examples
Choose the correct option:
- We introduced _____ at the event.
Answer:
✅ ourselves
- We taught _____ piano.
Answer:
✅ ourselves
- We considered _____ responsible.
Answer:
✅ ourselves
Memory Trick 🧠
Remember:
We = plural
Plural words often need plural endings.
We → ourselves
They → themselves
Simple pattern = fewer mistakes.
FAQs: Ourselves vs Ourself
Is “ourself” a real word?
Yes. It exists but appears rarely and mainly in historical or institutional language.
Why is “ourselves” more common?
Because we is normally plural, and grammar rules require a plural reflexive pronoun.
Is “we prepared ourself” wrong?
In standard English, yes.
Correct version:
“We prepared ourselves.”
Can organizations use “ourself”?
Sometimes. Certain institutions may use singular we with ourself, but it is uncommon.
Is “ourselves” singular or plural?
It is plural because it refers to we.
Should students use “ourself” in essays?
Generally no.
Academic and professional writing almost always prefers ourselves.
Conclusion
Understanding Ourselves vs Ourself becomes easy once you remember one rule: match the reflexive pronoun to the subject.
Since we is usually plural, ourselves is almost always the correct choice. It works in everyday speech, academic writing, professional communication, and casual conversations. While ourself technically exists, it belongs mostly to rare historical or institutional situations.
When in doubt, ask yourself a simple question:
“Am I talking about more than one person?”
If the answer is yes, choose ourselves.
Tiny grammar choices may seem small, but they shape how people read and understand your writing. Mastering one little difference today can strengthen every sentence you write tomorrow. ✨
Also read: Ask vs Pose
Hi, I’m Willa Sterling. I work at gramzio.com as a senior editor. With 15 years of experience in academic and formal grammar, I provide the expert insights you need to make your writing flawless.
