Ourselves vs Ourself? What is the difference?

Grammar / By

Ourselves is correct and a reflexive pronoun in English. Our self and Ourself are used in different contexts.

We need to bake the cake ourselves.

Ourselves

Ourselves is the reflexive pronoun for the pronoun “we”. We use a pronoun in place of a noun when we don’t want to state the noun. A reflexive pronoun is when the pronoun is both the subject and the object of the sentence. This happens for example when the person is both the doer and receiver of an action. 

We had to cut the grass ourselves. We had no gardener. 

Ourself

Oneselves is incorrect in English. The pronoun “we” is always plural in English. When we use “we” it is never singular because “we” includes multiple people. 

“Ourself” can only be used when the subject “we” is treated as singular.  

Our self

“Our self” is not used as a reflexive pronoun but can be used in another context. “Self” is a noun that means a person’s essential being. In this case, you can use “our self”

Our self has many layers.

Conor
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