Ourselves vs Ourself: Meaning, Grammar Rules, and Examples

Introduction

Have you ever wondered whether to write ourselves or ourself? Both words look correct at first glance, but they have different uses in English grammar. Choosing the right one depends on the subject of your sentence and what you want to express.

In everyday English, ourselves is the standard reflexive pronoun used with the subject we. For example, you might say, “We prepared ourselves for the exam.” The word ourself, however, is much less common and usually appears in specific contexts, such as when a monarch or another person uses we to refer to themselves.

Understanding the difference between ourselves vs ourself can help you write more clearly, avoid common grammar mistakes, and improve your English sentence structure.

In this guide, you’ll learn the meaning of each word, the rules for using them, real-life examples, common mistakes, and answers to frequently asked questions.

What Do Ourselves and Ourself Mean?

Although ourselves and ourself look similar, they are not interchangeable in standard everyday English.

Ourselves is a reflexive pronoun used when we refers to two or more people, or when a speaker uses we to refer to themselves along with others. It can also serve as an emphatic pronoun to add emphasis to a sentence.

Ourself is a rare reflexive pronoun traditionally associated with the royal or editorial we, in which one person refers to themselves as we. It is also found in some specialized or older forms of English.

Here is a quick overview:

• Ourselves: The standard choice when we refers to multiple people.
• Ourself: A rare form generally associated with a singular person using we in a formal or special context.

For example:

• Correct: We taught ourselves how to cook.
• Unusual in ordinary English: We taught ourself how to cook.

The first sentence is natural because the subject we refers to multiple people. The second would sound unusual unless a special context justified the singular use.

What Is the Difference Between Ourselves and Ourself?

The main difference between ourselves vs ourself is the number and meaning of the subject.

In normal English conversation, ourselves is the correct choice when the subject is we. The word ourself is not normally used to refer to a group of people.

Consider these examples:

• “We introduced ourselves to the new neighbors.” This means that the members of a group introduced themselves.
• “We must remind ourselves to stay focused.” This refers to the people included in we.
• “We, the monarch, have decided to act ourself.” In a traditional royal context, we may refer to one person, although the exact wording depends on the convention being followed.

The last example illustrates a specialized use rather than everyday English. You generally should not use ourself simply because you want your writing to sound formal.

For school assignments, professional emails, essays, and ordinary conversations, ourselves is almost always the right choice.

Ourselves vs Ourself: Comparison Table

The following table summarizes the main differences between these two reflexive pronouns.

Feature	Ourselves	Ourself
Grammar category	Reflexive and emphatic pronoun	Rare reflexive pronoun
Standard everyday use	Yes	No
Typical subject	We referring to a group	We referring to one person in a special context
Common in conversation	Yes	Very rare
Common in academic writing	Yes	Only when context justifies it
Example	We prepared ourselves.	The monarch referred to ourself.
Best choice for learners	Yes	Usually avoid it

Remember that ourselves is not simply a more formal version of ourself. The two forms have different grammatical uses.

If you are unsure which word to use, check what we means in your sentence. If it refers to several people, choose ourselves.

Grammar Rules for Using Ourselves and Ourself

Learning a few simple rules will help you choose the correct pronoun.

Rule 1: Use Ourselves With a Group

When we refers to two or more people, use ourselves.

Examples:

• We enjoyed ourselves at the party.
• We introduced ourselves before the meeting.
• We promised ourselves that we would keep practicing.
• We completed the project ourselves.

In each example, the subject includes multiple people. Therefore, ourselves is the standard reflexive pronoun.

Rule 2: Use Ourselves for Emphasis

You can also use ourselves to emphasize that you and the other people in your group performed an action personally.

Examples:

• We ourselves organized the entire event.
• We built the website ourselves.
• We will handle the problem ourselves.

In these sentences, ourselves adds emphasis. The sentences would still make sense without it, but the pronoun highlights who performed the action.

Rule 3: Reserve Ourself for Specialized Contexts

Use ourself only when the context supports a singular we, such as certain traditional royal or formal usages.

For example, a monarch might use we as a singular speaker in a historical proclamation. In that special context, ourself may be appropriate according to the convention being followed.

However, this usage is uncommon in modern everyday English. Don’t use ourself as a substitute for ourselves in ordinary sentences.

Rule 4: Match the Pronoun to Its Subject

Reflexive pronouns generally refer back to the subject of the sentence.

For example:

• We prepared ourselves for the interview.
• They prepared themselves for the interview.
• I prepared myself for the interview.

Each subject has its own matching reflexive pronoun. This relationship is an important part of English grammar.

Ourselves vs Ourself: 10 Examples in Everyday English

Here are ten practical examples to help you understand the difference.

1. We taught ourselves how to use the new software.
2. We enjoyed ourselves during the family vacation.
3. We reminded ourselves to bring our identification cards.
4. We completed the assignment ourselves.
5. We should believe in ourselves when facing challenges.
6. We introduced ourselves to our new colleagues.
7. We prepared ourselves for the final examination.
8. We asked ourselves whether the decision was fair.
9. We can solve this problem ourselves without outside help.
10. We promised ourselves that we would never stop learning.

All ten examples use ourselves because we refers to a group or includes multiple people.

What about ourself? Consider a specialized example:

– In a traditional royal statement, a monarch might use we to represent themselves and use ourself in keeping with that convention.

This is not a normal conversational pattern. For most English learners, practicing the ten examples above is much more useful.

Common Mistakes When Using Ourselves and Ourself

Even advanced English learners sometimes confuse reflexive pronouns. Fortunately, the most common errors are easy to correct.

Incorrect or unusual sentence	Better sentence	Explanation
We enjoyed ourself at the picnic.	We enjoyed ourselves at the picnic.	A group uses ourselves.
We taught ourself English.	We taught ourselves English.	The subject refers to multiple people.
We prepared ourself for the test.	We prepared ourselves for the test.	The reflexive pronoun must match the group subject.
We introduced ourself to the teacher.	We introduced ourselves to the teacher.	A group introduces its members collectively.
We should trust ourself.	We should trust ourselves.	Ourselves is standard when we refers to a group.

A frequent mistake is assuming that ourself is correct whenever a sentence contains we. However, that is not how standard English works.

Another mistake is using a reflexive pronoun when a regular object pronoun is needed.

For example:

• Incorrect: The teacher gave the homework to ourselves.
• Correct: The teacher gave the homework to us.

The pronoun us is correct because it follows the preposition to and does not refer back reflexively to the subject.

How Ourselves Fits Into English Sentence Structure

Understanding sentence structure makes reflexive pronouns easier to use correctly.

A common sentence pattern is:

Subject + Verb + Reflexive Pronoun

For example:

• We prepared ourselves.
• We introduced ourselves.
• We challenged ourselves.

In these sentences, we is the subject, the verb describes an action, and ourselves refers back to the subject.

Another pattern is:

Subject + Reflexive Pronoun + Verb

For example:

• We ourselves completed the project.
• We ourselves made the final decision.

Here, ourselves adds emphasis rather than functioning as the object of the verb.

You can also use a reflexive pronoun in longer sentences:

• We prepared ourselves for the competition because we wanted to perform well.
• We reminded ourselves that mistakes are part of learning.

These sentences contain more than one clause, but the basic pronoun rule remains the same.

Reflexive Pronouns, Verbs, and Tenses

Reflexive pronouns often appear with verbs that describe actions people perform on themselves or actions involving the subject directly.

Common verbs used with ourselves include:

• Prepare: We prepared ourselves for the journey.
• Introduce: We introduced ourselves to the visitors.
• Teach: We taught ourselves a new skill.
• Remind: We reminded ourselves of the deadline.
• Enjoy: We enjoyed ourselves at the celebration.
• Challenge: We challenged ourselves to improve.
• Protect: We protected ourselves from the cold.

The reflexive pronoun does not change when the tense changes. Instead, the verb changes to express time.

Tense	Example
Present simple	We prepare ourselves carefully.
Past simple	We prepared ourselves carefully.
Present continuous	We are preparing ourselves carefully.
Present perfect	We have prepared ourselves carefully.
Future simple	We will prepare ourselves carefully.

These examples demonstrate how reflexive pronouns work with different tenses.

For example, future indefinite tense examples often use will + base verb, as in “We will prepare ourselves for the exam.” The pronoun remains unchanged.

Similarly, grammar topics such as has vs have and the use of had involve choosing the right auxiliary verb. They follow different rules from reflexive pronouns, but both topics help learners build accurate sentences.

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Ourselves vs Ourself in Clauses and Complex Sentences

A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a verb. Reflexive pronouns can appear in independent clauses and dependent clauses.

Consider these examples:

• We reminded ourselves before the meeting started.
• We challenged ourselves because we wanted to improve.
• We promised ourselves that we would finish the work.

The bolded parts in these examples are dependent clauses. They add information about time, reason, or what was promised.

Notice that the use of ourselves does not change simply because a sentence contains multiple clauses. The pronoun still refers to the subject we.

Here are a few additional examples:

• Although we were nervous, we prepared ourselves for the presentation.
• We told ourselves that we could overcome the challenge.
• When we make mistakes, we should remind ourselves to keep learning.

For learners studying English grammar, it helps to separate the main clause from the additional information. First, identify the subject. Then decide whether a reflexive pronoun is needed.

Related Grammar Rules Every English Learner Should Know

The difference between ourselves and ourself connects to several broader grammar concepts.

1. Personal pronouns

Personal pronouns identify people or things. Examples include I, you, he, she, it, we, and they.

2. Reflexive pronouns

Reflexive pronouns refer back to the subject. Examples include myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, and themselves.

3. Emphatic pronouns

An emphatic pronoun adds emphasis to a noun or pronoun. For example, “We ourselves completed the project.”

4. Subject-verb agreement

Subjects and verbs must agree in number and person. For example, “We are ready” is correct, while “We is ready” is not.

5. Adjectives and other grammar terms

An adjective describes a noun, as in “a difficult exam.” If you’re studying topics such as 10 examples of adjective usage, verb forms, or clauses, remember that each grammatical category has a different role in a sentence.

The key lesson is that reflexive pronouns must fit the meaning and structure of the sentence. Recognizing the subject is often the easiest way to make the right choice.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ourselves vs Ourself

Is Ourselves or Ourself Correct?

Ourselves is correct in standard everyday English when we refers to a group. Ourself is a rare form associated with specialized uses of singular we.

Is Ourself a Real Word?

Yes. Ourself is a recognized but uncommon English word. It appears in certain formal, historical, and specialized contexts. It is not the normal plural reflexive pronoun.

Can I Use Ourself in Formal Writing?

Only when the context specifically calls for it, such as a traditional royal use of we. For ordinary professional emails, essays, reports, and academic writing, use ourselves when referring to a group.

Why Do People Say We Ourselves?

People use we ourselves to add emphasis. For example, “We ourselves checked every document” highlights that the speakers personally checked the documents.

What Is the Reflexive Pronoun for We?

The standard reflexive pronoun for we is ourselves. For example, “We taught ourselves how to play chess.”

Is Ourselves Singular or Plural?

Ourselves is generally plural in meaning because it refers to the people included in we. It can also be used emphatically with we.

Can I Say We Did It Ourself?

In ordinary English, say “We did it ourselves.” The form ourself is generally inappropriate when we refers to multiple people.

What Is the Difference Between Ourselves and Us?

Us is an object pronoun, while ourselves is a reflexive or emphatic pronoun.

For example:

• The coach encouraged us.
• We encouraged ourselves.

The first sentence uses us as the object of encouraged. The second uses ourselves to refer back to the subject we.

Conclusion

When comparing ourselves vs ourself, the most important rule is simple: use ourselves in standard everyday English when we refers to a group. It is the correct reflexive pronoun for sentences such as “We prepared ourselves,” “We enjoyed ourselves,” and “We taught ourselves a new skill.”

Although ourself exists in English, it is uncommon and generally belongs to specialized contexts where one person uses we to refer to themselves.

As you continue improving your English grammar, focus on identifying the subject, understanding the verb, and choosing the appropriate pronoun. With regular practice, you’ll find it much easier to use reflexive pronouns correctly in everyday conversations, school assignments, and professional writing.