English has many words that look or sound similar but differ in correctness, usage, or acceptance in standard writing. Themselves and theirselves are two examples that can confuse English learners, students, and even native speakers. Both forms may appear in conversation, online discussions, or written material, but they do not have the same status in standard American English.
The word themselves is the standard reflexive pronoun used when the subject and object of a sentence refer to the same people. For example, “The students prepared themselves for the examination.” The pronoun refers back to “the students.”
The word theirselves is a nonstandard form that occurs in some regional dialects and informal speech. People may use it because it follows a pattern they recognize in other reflexive pronouns, such as “myself,” “yourself,” and “ourselves.” However, standard American English uses “themselves” in this situation.
Understanding the difference helps writers avoid errors in school assignments, professional emails, business documents, articles, and other formal communication. It also helps readers recognize that a nonstandard form may be part of a person’s dialect rather than simply a random mistake.
This guide explains the meanings, grammar, examples, common mistakes, and practical rules for using “themselves” and “theirselves” correctly.
Quick Answer
Themselves is the correct standard form for formal and general writing in American English.
Theirselves is a nonstandard or dialectal form. Although it appears in some varieties of spoken English, it should generally be avoided in schoolwork, professional communication, and edited publications.
Examples:
- Correct: The children dressed themselves.
- Nonstandard in formal writing: The children dressed theirselves.
- Correct: The team members introduced themselves.
- Nonstandard in formal writing: The team members introduced theirselves.
The easiest rule to remember is this: use themselves when referring back to a plural subject that includes “they,” “them,” or a plural noun.
Why People Confuse Them
Several factors explain why people confuse “themselves” and “theirselves.”
1. The word “their” seems like a logical starting point
“Their” is a possessive word used to show that something belongs to or is associated with a group of people. For example, “The workers brought their tools.”
Because “their” refers to the same group represented by “they,” some speakers assume that adding “selves” should produce “theirselves.” The reasoning may seem logical, but standard English uses the established form “themselves.”
2. Other reflexive pronouns follow different patterns
English reflexive pronouns do not all follow one simple pattern.
Consider these examples:
- I → myself
- You → yourself
- He → himself
- She → herself
- We → ourselves
- They → themselves
The pronouns “myself,” “yourself,” and “ourselves” may encourage speakers to expect a similar construction with “their.” However, the accepted standard form is “themselves.”
3. Regional speech influences word choice
English varies from one region and community to another. Some speakers use “theirselves” naturally in everyday conversation because it is familiar within their dialect.
A dialect can have consistent grammatical patterns of its own. Therefore, a form that appears in regional speech is not necessarily meaningless. Nevertheless, formal written English follows widely accepted conventions, and “themselves” is the expected choice.
4. People may learn the word through conversation
Many English speakers learn everyday expressions by listening to family members, friends, and their communities. If someone regularly hears “theirselves,” the form may feel natural.
Reading books, dictionaries, and professionally edited writing helps learners recognize the standard form. With practice, using “themselves” becomes easier.
Key Differences At A Glance
| Feature | Themselves | Theirselves |
|---|---|---|
| Standard American English | Yes | No |
| Grammatical role | Reflexive pronoun | Nonstandard reflexive form |
| Suitable for formal writing | Yes | Generally no |
| Common in edited publications | Yes | Uncommon |
| May occur in dialectal speech | Yes | Yes |
| Best choice for students | Yes | No |
The main difference is not that the two forms have completely unrelated meanings. Rather, the difference concerns standard usage. “Themselves” is the established reflexive pronoun, while “theirselves” is a nonstandard form used by some speakers.
For most writing situations, there is no need to hesitate: choose “themselves.”
Are They the Same Word?
“Themselves” and “theirselves” can refer to the same group of people in certain contexts, but they are not equally accepted forms in standard English.
A reflexive pronoun refers back to the subject of a sentence. For example:
“The employees organized themselves into small groups.”
In this sentence, “themselves” refers to “the employees.” The employees performed the action of organizing, and the pronoun refers back to those same people.
A speaker who uses “theirselves” may intend to communicate the same idea. However, in standard American English, that form is not the accepted replacement for “themselves.”
Consider another example:
- Standard: The players reminded themselves to stay focused.
- Nonstandard: The players reminded theirselves to stay focused.
Both sentences may communicate the intended idea, but the first is appropriate for formal writing.
The distinction matters because readers generally expect standard pronouns in academic, professional, and published material. Using the accepted form keeps the sentence clear and consistent with conventional English grammar.
US vs UK Preference
The standard reflexive pronoun in both American and British English is themselves.
American English uses “themselves” in school assignments, workplace communication, newspapers, books, websites, and other edited writing. British English follows the same standard pattern.
For example:
- American English: The students completed the project themselves.
- British English: The students completed the project themselves.
The spelling and grammatical form remain the same.
“Theirselves” may appear in regional, historical, or informal language, but it is not the standard British or American form for ordinary formal writing. It should not be treated as an accepted US-versus-UK spelling difference.
This point is important because some English words genuinely have regional spelling variants. For instance, American and British English differ in certain words ending in “-or” and “-our.” “Themselves” and “theirselves” do not represent that kind of regional spelling variation.
If you are writing for an American audience, use “themselves.” The same advice applies when writing for a British audience or an international readership.
Which Spelling Should You Use?
Choose themselves in almost every standard writing situation.
In school assignments
Students should use “themselves” in essays, examinations, homework, research papers, and classroom presentations.
Example:
“The students challenged themselves to improve their reading skills.”
This sentence follows standard grammar and sounds natural in academic English.
In professional emails
Workplace communication usually requires conventional grammar and clear language.
Example:
“Please ask the department managers to introduce themselves at the meeting.”
Using “themselves” helps the message sound polished and professional.
In website articles
Published articles should generally use standard English unless the writer is deliberately representing a speaker’s dialect.
Example:
“Readers can test themselves with the practice questions at the end of the lesson.”
This construction is appropriate for educational websites, blogs, and informational pages.
In everyday conversation
The standard form is also the safest choice when speaking with people from different backgrounds.
Example:
“They taught themselves how to use the new software.”
Although “theirselves” may occur in some communities, “themselves” is broadly understood and accepted.
In creative writing
Writers may include “theirselves” in dialogue to represent a character’s regional speech or distinctive voice. Such a choice should be deliberate rather than accidental.
Example:
A character might say, “They fixed it theirselves,” if the writer is intentionally portraying a dialect.
Outside that specific purpose, “themselves” remains the better choice.
When One Form Looks Wrong
“Theirselves” can look plausible because it resembles other English reflexive pronouns. However, familiar-looking word patterns do not always produce standard forms.
The following examples show how to recognize and correct the nonstandard form.
Example 1
Incorrect in standard writing: The children taught theirselves to swim.
Correct: The children taught themselves to swim.
Example 2
Incorrect in standard writing: The employees introduced theirselves to the new manager.
Correct: The employees introduced themselves to the new manager.
Example 3
Incorrect in standard writing: The neighbors organized theirselves into teams.
Correct: The neighbors organized themselves into teams.
Example 4
Incorrect in standard writing: The students prepared theirselves for the competition.
Correct: The students prepared themselves for the competition.
Example 5
Incorrect in standard writing: The volunteers reminded theirselves about the schedule.
Correct: The volunteers reminded themselves about the schedule.
In each case, the correction is simple: replace “theirselves” with “themselves.”
However, writers should understand the context before labeling every occurrence of “theirselves” as an accidental typo. In dialogue or dialect-focused writing, the form may be intentional. In formal prose, the standard form is expected.
Common Mistakes (and Quick Fixes)
English learners can avoid this confusion by learning a few basic rules.
Mistake 1: Replacing “themselves” with “theirselves”
Incorrect in standard writing: The guests served theirselves dinner.
Correct: The guests served themselves dinner.
Quick fix: When the subject is “they” or a plural noun referring to people, use “themselves” as the reflexive pronoun.
Mistake 2: Confusing “their” with “themselves”
“Their” and “themselves” serve different grammatical purposes.
- Their: The students brought their notebooks.
- Themselves: The students organized themselves into groups.
“Their” indicates possession or association. “Themselves” refers back to the subject.
Quick fix: Ask whether the sentence needs a possessive word or a reflexive pronoun.
Mistake 3: Using a reflexive pronoun when it is unnecessary
Incorrect: The manager and myself attended the meeting.
Better: The manager and I attended the meeting.
“Yourself,” “myself,” and “themselves” should not be inserted merely to make a sentence sound more formal.
Quick fix: Use a reflexive pronoun when the subject and object refer to the same person or group, or when the pronoun is used for emphasis.
Mistake 4: Assuming every familiar word pattern is correct
English has irregular forms and established expressions. A construction that seems logical may still be nonstandard.
Quick fix: Learn the common reflexive pronouns as a set: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, and themselves.
Mistake 5: Treating a dialect form as a regional spelling variant
A regional spelling variant is different from a nonstandard grammatical form. American and British English have genuine spelling differences, but “theirselves” is not the standard British alternative to “themselves.”
Quick fix: Use “themselves” in formal writing regardless of whether the audience is American, British, or international.
Everyday Examples
The following examples show how to use “themselves” naturally in everyday English.
- The children dressed themselves before breakfast.
- The students completed the assignment themselves.
- The workers organized themselves into three groups.
- The guests introduced themselves to the host.
- The players prepared themselves for the final match.
- The neighbors taught themselves how to grow vegetables.
- The employees reminded themselves of the new policy.
- The volunteers divided themselves into smaller teams.
- The travelers found themselves on the wrong train.
- The children entertained themselves during the long journey.
- The candidates presented themselves confidently during the interview.
- The team members encouraged themselves after a difficult loss.
- The students challenged themselves to read more books.
- The participants registered themselves for the workshop.
- The family members helped themselves to refreshments.
Each sentence uses “themselves” to refer back to a plural subject.
Here are a few more examples showing how the word works in different contexts.
emphasis: The designers themselves approved the final plan.
independent action: Without outside help, the children completed the puzzle themselves.
personal development: To learn new skills, the students pushed themselves beyond their comfort zones.
unexpected circumstances: During the hike, the hikers found themselves caught in heavy rain.
mutual encouragement: Throughout a challenging season, the teammates encouraged one another and supported themselves as a team.
Remember that “themselves” does not always mean that people performed an action without help. Its exact meaning depends on the sentence. Sometimes it refers to an action directed back at the subject; in other sentences, it adds emphasis or describes a situation.
Dictionary-Style Word Details
Verb
Neither “themselves” nor “theirselves” is a verb. Both forms are associated with reflexive-pronoun usage, although “theirselves” is nonstandard in general edited English.
A verb expresses an action, event, or state. In the sentence “The children taught themselves,” the verb is “taught,” while “themselves” is the reflexive pronoun.
Examples of verbs used with “themselves” include:
- Prepare: They prepared themselves for the trip.
- Teach: They taught themselves to play the guitar.
- Introduce: They introduced themselves to the visitors.
- Organize: They organized themselves into groups.
- Remind: They reminded themselves to arrive early.
Understanding the verb and pronoun separately makes sentence structure easier to recognize.
Noun
“Themselves” is a pronoun, not a noun. It refers to people or, in suitable contexts, animals or things already identified by the subject.
Example:
“The machines shut themselves down automatically.”
Here, “themselves” refers to “the machines.”
Although the word usually refers to people in everyday communication, its grammatical function can extend to other plural subjects when the sentence calls for a reflexive pronoun.
Synonyms
“Themselves” does not have a perfect synonym that works in every sentence. Its meaning depends on the subject and context.
Possible alternative expressions include:
- The people in question
- Those individuals
- The group members
- Each person personally
- Without outside help
These phrases are not always interchangeable with “themselves.”
For example, “The students taught themselves French” emphasizes that the students learned French independently. Replacing “themselves” with “those individuals” would change the sentence structure and meaning.
The best approach is to keep “themselves” when a reflexive pronoun is grammatically required.
Example Sentences
Here are additional examples of correct usage:
- The researchers checked their calculations themselves.
- The children entertained themselves while waiting.
- The guests made themselves comfortable in the living room.
- The team members introduced themselves before the presentation.
- The students gave themselves enough time to finish the assignment.
- The hikers prepared themselves for cold weather.
- The employees reminded themselves to follow the safety rules.
- The players congratulated themselves after winning the match.
- The volunteers arranged themselves in a line.
- The neighbors taught themselves basic computer skills.
In all these examples, “themselves” refers to the plural subject of the sentence.
Word History
“Themselves” developed as part of the history of English reflexive pronouns. Reflexive forms help indicate that the subject of a sentence and the person or thing affected by an action are the same.
Older stages of English used different pronoun forms from those common today. Over time, English developed the modern set of reflexive pronouns, including “myself,” “yourself,” “ourselves,” and “themselves.”
The form “theirselves” can be understood as an extension of the possessive word “their” combined with “selves.” Some speakers have used it in dialectal speech, but standard English retained “themselves” as the conventional form.
This history illustrates an important feature of language: a form may be understandable and appear in real speech without becoming the accepted standard in formal writing.
Phrases Containing
“Themselves” appears in many useful expressions and sentence patterns.
By themselves: This usually means alone or without help.
Example: The students completed the activity by themselves.
Among themselves: This means within a group.
Example: The team members discussed the problem among themselves.
For themselves: This can mean independently or for their own benefit.
Example: The students made the decision for themselves.
To themselves: This may refer to keeping something private or directing it inward.
Example: The guests kept their opinions to themselves.
Help themselves: This expression can mean taking something freely when permitted.
Example: Please ask the visitors to help themselves to snacks.
Introduce themselves: This means telling others who they are.
Example: The new employees introduced themselves to the supervisor.
These expressions use “themselves,” not “theirselves,” in standard American English.
Conclusion
The choice between “themselves” and “theirselves” is straightforward in standard American English. Themselves is the accepted reflexive pronoun and the appropriate form for academic, professional, and general writing. “Theirselves” appears in some dialects and informal speech, but it is considered nonstandard in edited English.
To remember the difference, learn the standard reflexive-pronoun forms and use “themselves” when referring back to a plural subject. For example, write “The students prepared themselves,” not “The students prepared theirselves,” in formal work.
Whether you are writing a school assignment, a business email, a website article, or a personal message, “themselves” is the safest and most widely accepted choice. Use “theirselves” only when you deliberately intend to represent a dialect or a character’s speech.
The key lesson is simple: choose themselves for standard English, and recognize “theirselves” as a nonstandard form rather than an accepted American or British spelling alternative.
