Have you ever written a sentence like “We should remind ourself” and stopped to wonder whether ourselves vs ourself is the correct choice? You are not alone.
These two forms look almost identical, but they do not have the same role in standard modern English. The confusion usually comes from the fact that we is plural, while ourself appears to make sense if we think of “we” as referring to one person.
In everyday American English, however, ourselves is the normal reflexive pronoun that matches we. For example, we say, “We prepared ourselves,” not “We prepared ourself.” At the same time, ourself is a real word with limited uses, especially when a single person uses the formal or royal we. Major dictionaries recognize this specialized use, but it is uncommon in ordinary writing.
Understanding ourselves vs ourself is useful because choosing the wrong form can make otherwise clear writing sound unusual or grammatically awkward. Let’s break down the rule in simple terms. ✍️
|To vs Too: What’s the Difference? Easy Rules, Examples, and Tips
|Input vs Imput: Which Is Correct? Meaning, Usage, and Examples
|Day Off vs Off Day: What’s the Difference?
Quick Answer: Ourselves vs Ourself
Ourselves is the standard reflexive and intensive pronoun for we. Use it when we refers to two or more people, such as “We taught ourselves how to cook.”
Ourself is a rare form used mainly when we refers to one person, especially in a royal, formal, editorial, or similarly specialized use. In normal everyday American English, ourselves is almost always the correct choice.
Simple rule:
👉 We → ourselves
👉 Royal/formal singular we → ourself
Understanding the Basics: Ourselves vs Ourself
The easiest way to understand ourselves vs ourself is to look at the pronoun we.
The ordinary first-person plural pronoun is we. Its object form is us, its possessive forms are our and ours, and its standard reflexive form is ourselves.
Here is the normal pattern:
- I → myself
- You → yourself
- He → himself
- She → herself
- It → itself
- We → ourselves
- You → yourselves
- They → themselves
Cambridge’s grammar reference lists ourselves as the reflexive pronoun corresponding to we. Reflexive pronouns are generally used when the subject and object refer to the same person or group, and they can also be used for emphasis.
Comparison Table
| Form | Type | Meaning | Example | Correct/Incorrect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ourselves | Reflexive pronoun | We as the object of an action | We taught ourselves. | ✅ Correct |
| ourselves | Intensive pronoun | Emphasizes “we” | We ourselves made it. | ✅ Correct |
| ourselves | Reflexive with “by” | Alone or without help | We did it by ourselves. | ✅ Correct |
| ourself | Specialized reflexive form | One person using “we” | We, the editor, must limit ourself to the facts. | ⚠️ Rare |
| ourself | Royal/formal form | One person speaking as “we” | We shall defend ourself. | ⚠️ Specialized |
| ourself | Ordinary plural reflexive | Supposed equivalent of “ourselves” | We prepared ourself. | ❌ Nonstandard in ordinary use |
So, if you are writing an email, school assignment, article, business report, website, or social media post, ourselves is normally the form you want.
What Does “Ourselves” Mean?
Ourselves is the standard reflexive form of we.
It can have several related functions.
1. Ourselves as a Reflexive Pronoun
A reflexive pronoun is used when the subject and object refer to the same people.
For example:
We prepared ourselves for the interview.
Here is the sentence breakdown:
- We = subject
- prepared = verb
- ourselves = object
The people doing the preparing are the same people being prepared.
Another example:
We congratulated ourselves after winning the competition.
Again:
- We performed the action.
- Ourselves refers back to we.
This is the most important everyday use of ourselves.
Cambridge explains that reflexive pronouns commonly refer back to the subject of a sentence.
2. Ourselves for Emphasis
Ourselves can also emphasize the subject.
For example:
We ourselves designed the website.
The basic sentence is:
We designed the website.
Adding ourselves emphasizes that we, rather than someone else, designed it.
Another example:
We ourselves checked every document.
This means that we personally checked the documents.
This use is sometimes called an intensive pronoun because it intensifies or emphasizes the subject.
3. Ourselves After “By”
Another very common construction is:
by ourselves
This usually means alone or without help.
Examples:
- We built the table by ourselves.
- We traveled across the country by ourselves.
- We completed the project by ourselves.
- We learned the software by ourselves.
In:
We completed the project by ourselves.
We tells us who completed it, while by ourselves tells us that no outside help was involved.
Cambridge specifically identifies reflexive pronouns with by as a way to express being alone or working without assistance.
What Does “Ourself” Mean?
Ourself is a real word, but its use is much more limited.
It is not simply the everyday singular version of ourselves.
In standard modern English, when we refers to multiple people, the expected reflexive form is ourselves.
However, ourself can occur when we refers to a single person.
This is particularly associated with the royal we, editorial we, or another formal use in which one individual refers to themselves as we.
Collins, for example, recognizes ourself as a form corresponding to ourselves when one person uses we, particularly in royal or formal language. It also notes that some uses of ourself instead of ourselves may be considered incorrect.
Example of a Royal “We”
Imagine a monarch making a formal statement:
We shall defend our kingdom and ourself.
Here, we refers to one person—the monarch.
Because the speaker is using we in a special singular sense, ourself can be used as the corresponding reflexive form.
This is extremely different from:
We should prepare ourselves for the meeting.
In that sentence, we refers to a group, so ourselves is correct.
Ourselves vs Ourself: The Main Difference
The central difference is number and reference.
Ourselves
Use ourselves when we refers to a group of people.
We taught ourselves Spanish.
The speaker is part of a group, and the group taught the group.
Ourself
Use ourself only in specialized situations where we refers to one person or has a special singular meaning.
We shall concern ourself only with the evidence.
Here, the writer is using a formal singular we.
The Easy Rule
If you can replace we with:
I and another person
I and several people
my team and I
my family and I
my friends and I
then ourselves is generally the right choice.
For example:
My team and I prepared ourselves.
Not:
My team and I prepared ourself. ❌
Correct Meanings and Uses of “Ourselves”
Ourselves as the Object of a Verb
The most common use is when the group represented by we receives the action.
Examples:
We introduced ourselves to the new manager.
We reminded ourselves to stay calm.
We challenged ourselves to finish early.
We treated ourselves to dinner.
In each sentence, ourselves refers back to we.
Sentence Breakdown
Consider:
We challenged ourselves.
- We = the people performing the action
- challenged = the action
- ourselves = the same people receiving the action
This is exactly the kind of relationship reflexive pronouns express.
Ourselves for Emphasis
You can also use ourselves to emphasize that the group personally performed an action.
We ourselves organized the event.
The word ourselves adds emphasis.
Compare:
We organized the event.
with:
We ourselves organized the event.
The second sentence strongly highlights who organized it.
Another example:
We ourselves witnessed the incident.
This suggests that the speakers personally witnessed it rather than hearing about it from someone else.
Ourselves with “By”
This is another extremely common pattern.
We did it by ourselves.
This means:
We did it without help.
Examples:
- We decorated the room by ourselves.
- We fixed the computer by ourselves.
- We completed the assignment by ourselves.
- We traveled there by ourselves.
The phrase by ourselves can often be replaced with alone or without help, depending on the context.
Ourselves After Certain Verbs
Some verbs commonly take reflexive pronouns when the subject and object are the same.
Examples include:
- prepare ourselves
- introduce ourselves
- remind ourselves
- protect ourselves
- blame ourselves
- teach ourselves
- challenge ourselves
- express ourselves
- enjoy ourselves
For example:
We introduced ourselves to the guests.
The guests did not introduce us. We introduced us, meaning ourselves.
Another example:
We enjoyed ourselves at the party.
Here, ourselves refers back to we.
Cambridge’s dictionary provides ourselves examples with verbs such as promise, enjoy, busy, anchor, and familiarize.
When Should You Use “Ourself”?
The important point is that ourself is not the normal replacement for ourselves.
It has specialized uses.
1. Royal “We”
A monarch may use we while referring to one person.
This is known as the royal we.
For example:
We have decided to make ourself available for the ceremony.
The speaker is one person, but we is being used as a formal singular pronoun.
In such a setting, ourself may appear.
2. Editorial “We”
An individual writer or editor may occasionally use we to represent themselves or an institution.
In specialized writing, this can produce ourself.
However, modern professional writing usually has clearer alternatives.
Instead of writing:
We must limit ourself to this topic.
you could write:
I must limit myself to this topic.
or, if speaking for a team:
We must limit ourselves to this topic.
The clearer version depends on who we actually represents.
3. Historical or Literary Writing
Older texts can contain ourself, especially where a single speaker uses we.
This does not mean that modern writers should use it casually.
A historical novel might intentionally use:
We shall protect ourself from this threat.
because the author wants to create a formal or historical voice.
In creative writing, unusual grammar can sometimes be intentional.
Test Tip: How Can You Check the Correct Form?
Use this simple test:
Step 1: Find “we.”
Ask:
Who does “we” refer to?
If it refers to two or more people, continue to Step 2.
Step 2: Ask whether the same group is receiving the action.
If yes, use ourselves.
We prepared ourselves.
Step 3: Check for a special singular “we.”
If we refers to only one person because of a royal, editorial, or similarly formal convention, ourself may be possible.
Quick Test
We enjoyed ______ at the party.
Does we refer to a group?
Yes.
Therefore:
We enjoyed ourselves at the party. ✅
Not:
We enjoyed ourself. ❌
Ourselves vs Ourself in Real-Life Writing
Grammar becomes easier when you see it in realistic situations.
Case Study: Workplace Email
Imagine a manager writing to a team:
We should prepare ourselves for the client meeting.
This is correct because we refers to multiple people.
Now imagine an editor writing on behalf of a publication:
As the editor, we must limit ourself to the available evidence.
This is a specialized construction in which a single person uses we.
However, for clarity, many modern readers would find this clearer:
As the editor, I must limit myself to the available evidence.
The second version removes the ambiguity.
Why This Matters
Good professional writing is not only about technically possible grammar. It is also about clarity.
If readers have to stop and ask, “Does this person mean one person or several?” the sentence may need rewriting.
Grammar Rules: Why “Ourselves” Is Usually Correct
The standard reflexive pronoun system pairs:
| Subject Pronoun | Reflexive Pronoun |
|---|---|
| I | myself |
| you | yourself |
| he | himself |
| she | herself |
| it | itself |
| we | ourselves |
| you | yourselves |
| they | themselves |
Cambridge’s grammar reference gives this exact basic relationship: we → ourselves.
Therefore:
We taught ourselves.
is standard.
But:
We taught ourself.
is not the normal standard construction when we means a group.
Why Does “Ourself” Exist?
English has a long history of using we for a single speaker in certain formal settings.
For example, a monarch may say we instead of I. Historical grammar references recognize ourself as the reflexive associated with this special use of we.
Modern dictionaries also recognize this specialized meaning. Collins describes American English ourself as a form corresponding to ourselves that can be used when a single person refers to themselves as we, especially in royal or formal language.
So the word is not simply “wrong.” The key is context.
Ourselves vs Ourself: Why People Get Confused
The confusion usually comes from the appearance of the words.
Reason 1: “Self” Looks Singular
People see:
our + self
and naturally think:
one person = self
But reflexive pronouns do not always work by simply matching the apparent number of self.
The standard plural form is:
ourselves
Just as:
they → themselves
and:
you (plural) → yourselves.
Reason 2: “Our” Can Feel Ambiguous
The possessive determiner our can refer to a group, but English also has special situations where a single person uses our as part of the royal or institutional we.
That creates unusual constructions.
Reason 3: People Hear Rare Forms
A reader may encounter ourself in historical, literary, regional, or specialized writing and assume it is interchangeable with ourselves.
It is not.
Common Mistakes with Ourselves vs Ourself
Mistake 1: Using “Ourself” for a Normal Group
❌ We prepared ourself for the exam.
✅ We prepared ourselves for the exam.
The subject we represents a group, so use ourselves.
Mistake 2: Assuming “Ourself” Is Always Wrong
That goes too far in the other direction.
❌ “Ourself” is never a word.
This is inaccurate.
Dictionaries recognize specialized uses of ourself, especially when a single person uses we in a royal or formal sense.
The better rule is:
Use ourselves for ordinary plural we; reserve ourself for specialized singular-we contexts.
Mistake 3: Using a Reflexive Pronoun as the Subject
Another common problem is:
❌ Ourselves went to the store.
Standard English does not normally use ourselves by itself as the subject.
Instead:
✅ We went to the store ourselves.
or:
✅ We ourselves went to the store.
Cambridge notes that reflexive pronouns are not normally used alone as the subject of a clause, although they can accompany a noun or pronoun for emphasis.
Similar Grammar Confusions
The ourselves vs ourself confusion belongs to a larger group of commonly confused English forms.
| Confusing Forms | Correct Difference |
|---|---|
| it’s / its | it’s = it is; its = possessive |
| your / you’re | your = possessive; you’re = you are |
| their / there / they’re | Different meanings and grammatical roles |
| then / than | then = time/result; than = comparison |
| to / too / two | Different functions and meanings |
| accept / except | accept = receive/agree; except = excluding |
| affect / effect | Usually affect = influence; effect = result |
| advice / advise | advice = noun; advise = verb |
| ourselves / ourself | ourselves = normal plural reflexive; ourself = specialized singular-we form |
These errors are especially common online.
Fast Typing
When people type quickly, they often choose the first form that looks familiar.
Autocorrect
Autocorrect can also create problems, especially when a less common word is replaced automatically.
Lack of Knowledge
Finally, many writers simply have not been taught the specialized distinction between ourselves and ourself.
The best solution is not memorizing dozens of isolated sentences. Learn the underlying pronoun pattern.
Ourselves vs Ourself in Different Contexts
Everyday Conversation
In ordinary conversation, ourselves is overwhelmingly the natural choice.
Examples:
We cooked the meal ourselves.
We told ourselves to relax.
We should give ourselves more time.
We can handle it ourselves.
Using ourself in these situations would sound unusual to most American English speakers.
Professional Writing
Professional writing should generally use ourselves when we represents a group.
Examples:
We prepared ourselves for the presentation.
We reminded ourselves to review the data.
We completed the project ourselves.
If one person is using an institutional we, consider whether I would be clearer.
Instead of:
We must remind ourself of the policy.
write:
I must remind myself of the policy.
Or, if we truly represents a team:
We must remind ourselves of the policy.
Clarity should be the priority.
Academic Writing
Academic writing generally favors conventional, widely accepted forms.
For a group of researchers:
We conducted the experiment ourselves.
is natural.
Using ourself simply to sound formal is not a good idea.
If a singular researcher is using we as an academic convention, the sentence should still be phrased carefully to avoid ambiguity.
Creative Writing
Creative writing offers more freedom.
An author may deliberately use ourself to create:
- a historical voice
- a royal voice
- an institutional voice
- a distinctive narrator
- an archaic atmosphere
For example:
We shall judge ourself by the same standard.
That may be appropriate in historical fiction.
The important point is that the unusual form should serve a purpose.
Social Media and Texting
In casual texting, people often write quickly and may use nonstandard forms.
Still, if you want standard English:
We need to remind ourselves.
is the correct everyday choice.
Social media may tolerate more variation, but standard grammar remains useful when your goal is clear, polished writing.
Why This Difference Matters
At first glance, ourselves vs ourself may seem like a tiny grammar issue. But small word choices can affect how readers understand your writing.
1. Clarity
The word ourselves immediately tells readers that we refers to a group.
We prepared ourselves.
The relationship is clear.
2. Professionalism
In business communication, unusual grammar can distract readers.
If you write:
We completed the report by ourself.
many readers will pause.
The standard version is:
We completed the report by ourselves.
That sentence sounds natural and professional.
3. Accuracy in Digital Communication
Online writing is often read quickly.
Clear grammar helps readers understand your meaning without stopping to interpret unusual constructions.
4. Better Search and Content Quality
For educational content, grammar accuracy also matters because readers often search for exact distinctions such as:
- ourselves vs ourself
- is ourself a word?
- is ourself grammatically correct?
- when to use ourselves
- when can you use ourself?
- ourselves meaning
- ourself meaning
A clear explanation can answer these questions directly.
Short quote: “Clarity is the goal of good grammar.”
The best grammar choice is often the one that makes your meaning immediately obvious.
Special Exception: When “Ourself” Is Appropriate
There is a genuine exception worth remembering.
Ourself can be used when one person uses we in a special way, such as the royal we.
For example:
We shall defend ourself against this accusation.
If a monarch is speaking as we, ourself can correspond to that singular reference.
Collins specifically identifies this American English use as a form corresponding to ourselves when one person refers to themselves as “we.”
There is also a historical tradition of this construction. Older grammar sources describe ourself as corresponding to the royal we.
Important Warning
Do not turn this exception into a general rule.
Do not write:
We enjoyed ourself at dinner.
when several people are speaking.
Use:
We enjoyed ourselves at dinner. ✅
The special existence of ourself does not make it interchangeable with ourselves.
A Simple Way to Remember the Difference
Think about the word we.
If “we” means several people:
we → ourselves
We prepared ourselves.
If “we” means one person in a special formal or royal sense:
we → ourself may be possible.
We shall concern ourself with the matter.
Memory Trick 🧠
Remember:
Plural we takes plural selves.
So:
WE → OURSELVES
That one rule will solve almost every everyday usage question.
Quick Recap Checklist
| Question | If Yes → Use |
|---|---|
| Does “we” refer to two or more people? | ourselves |
| Is the subject and object the same group? | ourselves |
| Does “by ___” mean without help? | ourselves |
| Are you emphasizing “we”? | ourselves |
| Is one person using the royal or formal “we”? | ourself may be appropriate |
| Are you writing ordinary American English? | ourselves in almost all cases |
Practice Example 1
We taught ______ how to use the software.
Answer: ourselves
Correct:
We taught ourselves how to use the software.
Practice Example 2
We completed the entire project by ______.
Answer: ourselves
Correct:
We completed the entire project by ourselves.
Practice Example 3
Suppose a monarch uses we to refer to one person:
We shall concern ______ with the matter.
Possible specialized form:
We shall concern ourself with the matter.
But in ordinary group writing, this would not be the correct pattern.
Ourselves vs Ourself: More Examples
Here are some quick examples to make the difference even clearer.
Standard Group Usage
✅ We introduced ourselves.
❌ We introduced ourself.
✅ We prepared ourselves for the test.
❌ We prepared ourself for the test.
✅ We bought ourselves some food.
❌ We bought ourself some food.
✅ We need to remind ourselves about the deadline.
❌ We need to remind ourself about the deadline.
✅ We completed the work ourselves.
❌ We completed the work ourself.
Specialized Singular “We”
⚠️ We shall hold ourself responsible.
This can work in a specialized context where one speaker intentionally uses we to represent one person.
However, if the speaker means an ordinary group, use:
We shall hold ourselves responsible.
The surrounding context determines the meaning.
FAQs About Ourselves vs Ourself
Is “ourselves” or “ourself” correct?
Ourselves is correct in normal standard English when we refers to a group. Ourself is a rare specialized form that can occur when one person uses we, especially in royal or formal language.
Is “ourself” a real word?
Yes. Ourself is a real word recognized by dictionaries, but it is uncommon in ordinary modern English. It can be used when a single person uses the pronoun we, such as in royal or formal language.
Can I say “we did it by ourself”?
Usually, no. If we refers to two or more people, the standard expression is:
We did it by ourselves.
By ourselves means that the group did something alone or without outside help.
Is “we ourselves” grammatically correct?
Yes. We ourselves is correct when ourselves is being used for emphasis.
For example:
We ourselves checked the documents.
The word ourselves emphasizes that the speakers personally checked the documents.
Why does “ourself” exist if “ourselves” is correct?
Ourself developed from specialized uses of we in which one person speaks as we, especially royal or formal uses. It should not be treated as the ordinary singular equivalent of ourselves.
What is the easiest way to remember “ourselves vs ourself”?
Remember this:
We + group = ourselves.
Use ourself only when you have a specific reason to use we for one person, such as a royal or formal voice.
Conclusion
The difference between ourselves vs ourself becomes much easier once you understand what we represents. In ordinary American English, ourselves is the standard reflexive and intensive pronoun for we. Use it when a group performs an action on itself, when you want to emphasize we, or when you use expressions such as by ourselves. For example, “We prepared ourselves,” “We ourselves completed the project,” and “We did it by ourselves” are all standard constructions.
Ourself is not simply an alternative spelling of ourselves. It is a rare, specialized form associated particularly with situations where one person uses we, such as a royal or formal we. Dictionaries recognize this usage, but it is uncommon in everyday writing.
So, when you are unsure, remember the simplest rule: ordinary plural “we” takes “ourselves.” Use ourself only when the context clearly calls for its specialized singular meaning.
When in doubt, choose the form that makes your meaning clear: we → ourselves. ✍️
I’m Sarah Martinez, a writer and English language enthusiast at Gramlixo. I love explaining grammar concepts in a clear and practical way that anyone can understand.
[…] |Ourselves vs Ourself: What’s the Difference and Which Is Correct? […]