“Ourselves” is the standard plural reflexive pronoun used for two or more people, while “ourself” is a rare singular form used when a single person speaks using the word “we.”
Knowing which one fits keeps your writing grammatically correct in nearly every situation.
This guide breaks down exactly when to use each form.
What Does “Ourselves” Mean?
Ourselves reflects an action back to a group of two or more people, including the speaker.
Example: “We drove ourselves to the store.”
Common uses of “ourselves” in everyday writing:
- “We gave ourselves a break after the long project.”
- “Let’s remind ourselves why we started this.”
- “We taught ourselves how to cook.”
“Ourselves” in Different Writing Contexts
What Does “Ourself” Mean?
Ourself reflects an action back to a single person who uses “we” — such as a monarch, an editor, or a formal speaker.
Example: “We will examine the contract ourself.”
Avoid this in normal writing. It is strictly for royal, archaic, or formal contexts, though some dialects use it when treating a group as one collective unit.
“Ourself” in Different Writing Contexts
Ourselves or Ourself — Quick Reference
Synonyms, Antonyms & Related Phrases
Synonyms for ourselves: ourself (rare/formal), us (in some reflexive contexts), our own selves (emphatic).
Antonyms: others, other people, one another (in contrast to self-reference).
Related phrases: “by ourselves” (alone, without help), “among ourselves” (within a group, privately), “proud of ourselves” (a common reflexive expression of self-satisfaction).
Memory Tip
The easiest way to remember which form fits:
Ourselves — think “many selves.” The “-selves” ending mirrors other plural reflexives like “themselves” and “yourselves.”
Ourself — think “royal exception.” It’s reserved for rare cases where “we” refers to just one formal speaker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is correct, ourself or ourselves?
Ourselves is correct for standard, everyday writing involving two or more people. Ourself is a rare form reserved for royal, editorial, or archaic contexts.
Is “ourselves” spelled correctly?
Yes. Ourselves is the correctly spelled, standard plural reflexive pronoun.
What does “ourselves” mean?
Ourselves means the group including the speaker, used to reflect an action back onto that group, as in “we helped ourselves.”
Is “yourselves” grammatically correct?
Yes. Yourselves is the plural reflexive form of “you,” used when addressing more than one person, such as “Help yourselves to the food.”
What does “ourself” mean?
Ourself means a single person using the pronoun “we,” typically in royal, editorial, or formal contexts, as in “We shall decide ourself.”
Is ourself grammatically incorrect?
Not entirely. Ourself is grammatically valid in specific formal or royal contexts, but it’s incorrect for standard, everyday plural use.
Is “myself” correct grammar?
Yes. Myself is the correct singular reflexive pronoun for “I,” used in sentences like “I hurt myself” or for emphasis, as in “I did it myself.”
Do you say selfs or selves?
Selves is correct. “Self” pluralizes irregularly to “selves,” which is why reflexive pronouns end in “-selves,” not “-selfs.”
Conclusion
Ourselves is the standard choice for everyday writing involving more than one person, while ourself stays reserved for rare royal or formal contexts. When in doubt, ourselves is almost always the safer, more natural choice.
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