ourselves vs ourself is a surprisingly tricky English grammar question. At first glance, the difference seems simple: ourselves ends in -selves, while ourself ends in -self.
But the real issue is not spelling. It is number, grammatical agreement, meaning, and context.
If you are talking about we—yourself plus at least one other person—the standard reflexive pronoun is ourselves:
We prepared ourselves for the meeting.
But ourself does appear in English. It is not simply a spelling mistake in every situation. Dictionaries record specialized, nonstandard, historical, or formal uses of ourself.
In particular, it can occur when we refers to one person, such as in certain royal, editorial, or formal styles, or when we is being used in a more general sense.
For ordinary modern English, however, the choice is much easier than it first appears.
This guide explains ourselves vs ourself in detail, including grammar, meaning, pronunciation, standard usage, historical background, formal writing, everyday English, British and American English, common mistakes, and real-world examples.
Quick Answer
Ourselves is the standard first-person plural reflexive pronoun corresponding to we. Use it when we refers to yourself and one or more other people.
Ourself is a much more limited form. It can occur when we refers to one person, in certain formal, historical, royal, editorial, or nonstandard constructions.
We → ourselves
Singular person using “we” → sometimes ourself
For normal modern conversation, schoolwork, business writing, and most professional writing, ourselves is the form you will normally want.
ourselves vs ourself: Comparison Table
| Feature | ourselves | ourself |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | Reflexive pronoun | Reflexive pronoun |
| Basic relationship | Corresponds to we | Can correspond to singular we in special contexts |
| Number | Normally plural | Usually singular in its specialized use |
| Standard everyday English | Yes | Generally no |
| Meaning | yourself + other people | one person referred to as “we,” or specialized usage |
| Pronunciation | /aʊərˈselvz/ or /aʊrˈselvz/ | /aʊərˈself/ or /aʊrˈself/ |
| Common use | Reflexive, emphasis, “by ourselves” | Limited, formal, historical, or nonstandard |
| Example | We taught ourselves. | The editor referred to ourself in the statement. |
| Formal writing | Normal | Usually avoided unless the context specifically requires it |
| Everyday conversation | Very common | Uncommon |
| Academic writing | Normal | Rare and context-dependent |
| Business writing | Normal | Usually avoid |
| American English | Standard | Specialized/limited |
| British English | Standard | Specialized/archaic/nonstandard uses occur |
| Easy rule | We → ourselves | Singular “we” → possibly ourself |
| Recommended for learners | Yes | Use only when you understand the special context |
Quick rule: If we means two or more people, use ourselves.
What Does “Ourselves” Mean?
Ourselves is the standard first-person plural reflexive pronoun.
It normally refers back to we or to a group containing the speaker.
For example:
We introduced ourselves.
Here, we is the subject and ourselves refers back to the same people.
The basic pattern is:
we → ourselves
Other common reflexive pairs include:
- I → myself
- you → yourself
- he → himself
- she → herself
- it → itself
- we → ourselves
- they → themselves
The important point is that ourselves is plural in its ordinary use.
Example
We congratulated ourselves on finishing the project.
The people who performed the action—we—are the same people receiving the action—ourselves.
Ourselves as a Reflexive Pronoun
A reflexive pronoun is normally used when the subject and the object refer to the same person or group.
Compare:
We blamed ourselves.
with:
We blamed them.
In the first sentence, we and ourselves refer to the same group.
In the second sentence, we and them refer to different people.
This is one of the most important grammatical functions of ourselves.
When Should You Use “Ourselves”?
Use ourselves when we refers to yourself and at least one other person.
1. When the group performs an action on itself
We prepared ourselves for the exam.
We reminded ourselves to stay calm.
We taught ourselves how to use the software.
We introduced ourselves to the new manager.
In each example, ourselves refers back to the group represented by we.
2. After a preposition
Ourselves can also follow a preposition when the reference is the same group.
We kept the secret to ourselves.
We bought some snacks for ourselves.
We were talking among ourselves.
We need to be honest with ourselves.
The same grammatical principle applies: ourselves refers back to the plural group.
3. For emphasis
Ourselves can emphasize we.
We ourselves made the decision.
This means that we personally made the decision.
Compare:
We made the decision.
with:
We ourselves made the decision.
The second sentence adds emphasis.
4. With “by”
The expression by ourselves commonly means alone or without help.
We completed the project by ourselves.
This means that no one else helped us.
Another example:
We traveled by ourselves.
Depending on context, this can mean that we traveled alone or without another group accompanying us.
5. With “to ourselves”
The phrase to ourselves can mean that something is available exclusively to us.
We had the entire room to ourselves.
This means nobody else was using the room.
What Does “Ourself” Mean?
Ourself is a real English word, but its use is much more restricted than ourselves.
It is not simply the ordinary singular version of ourselves.
Modern standard English normally uses:
we → ourselves
However, ourself has been used in contexts where we refers to one person.
This can happen with a special type of we, sometimes called the royal we or a similar formal/editorial use.
For example, a monarch might historically use we while referring to one person:
We have decided that ourself must take responsibility.
In ordinary modern English, this sounds highly formal, historical, or unusual.
Ourself in Dictionaries
Major dictionaries recognize ourself, but their usage information makes clear that it is considerably more limited than ourselves.
Some dictionary descriptions associate it with situations where we refers to one person, while other descriptions identify nonstandard or specialized modern uses.
This distinction matters because a word can be recognized by dictionaries without being the normal choice for everyday standard English.
That is exactly the situation with ourself.
Why Does “Ourself” Exist?
The answer becomes clearer when we look at the history of English pronouns.
English has long had reflexive forms ending in -self and -selves.
Compare:
- myself
- yourself
- himself
- herself
- ourselves
- yourselves
- themselves
The ending -self is associated with singular forms, while -selves is associated with plural forms in the standard modern system.
But pronoun usage is not always perfectly symmetrical.
Historically, we has sometimes been used by a single person to represent authority, office, institution, or a formal voice. This is different from ordinary plural we.
If one person says:
We have decided…
the we may not mean several people.
In such contexts, ourself can appear as the reflexive form.
That explains why ourself cannot simply be dismissed as a meaningless spelling error.
Ourselves vs Ourself: The Main Difference
The easiest way to understand the difference is to look at what we means.
If “we” means several people
Use:
ourselves
Example:
We need to remind ourselves about the deadline.
Here, we means the speaker and other people.
If “we” refers to one person
In certain specialized styles, ourself may be used.
Example:
We have considered the matter ourself.
This is highly formal and unusual in ordinary modern English.
The practical rule
For most readers and writers:
Plural we → ourselves
Do not replace ourselves with ourself simply because you think the shorter form sounds cleaner.
Is “Ourself” Grammatically Correct?
The answer depends on the context.
Ourself can be grammatically acceptable in limited contexts, but it is not the normal reflexive form for ordinary plural we.
For everyday standard English, the correct pair is:
we → ourselves
For example:
We should ask ourselves an important question.
Not:
We should ask ourself an important question.
The second sentence is inappropriate if we clearly refers to several people.
However, specialized uses of ourself can be found when we refers to one person or in historical, formal, or certain nonstandard constructions.
So the best answer is not simply “ourself is always wrong.”
A more accurate answer is:
Ourself exists, but its use is limited. Ourselves is the normal standard form when we refers to more than one person.
Grammar: Why “Ourselves” Has “-selves”
The ending helps signal number.
Compare:
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| myself | ourselves |
| yourself | yourselves |
| himself | themselves |
| herself | themselves |
| itself | themselves |
This is not an absolute pattern across every possible English construction, but it is a useful guide for the standard reflexive pronouns.
Because we is plural, its ordinary reflexive form is ourselves.
Think of the relationship as:
I → myself
we → ourselves
The difference between self and selves reflects the difference between singular and plural reference.
Is “Ourselves” a Pronoun?
Yes.
More specifically, ourselves is a reflexive pronoun.
It can also function as an emphatic or intensive pronoun when it adds emphasis.
For example:
We ourselves checked every document.
Here, ourselves emphasizes we.
In:
We checked ourselves in the mirror.
the form has a reflexive function.
The same word can therefore serve different grammatical purposes depending on the sentence.
Is “Ourself” a Pronoun?
Yes.
Ourself is classified as a pronoun, particularly a reflexive pronoun in the contexts where it is used.
The issue is not whether it belongs to the category of pronouns.
The issue is where it is appropriate.
That distinction is important:
A word can be grammatically possible without being the normal choice in everyday English.
Pronunciation: Ourselves vs Ourself
The pronunciation difference is straightforward.
Ourselves
Common pronunciations include:
/aʊərˈselvz/ or /aʊrˈselvz/
The final sound is /vz/.
Break it roughly into:
our + selves
Ourself
Common pronunciations include:
/aʊərˈself/ or /aʊrˈself/
The final sound is /f/ rather than /vz/.
Break it roughly into:
our + self
Easy pronunciation trick
Say:
self → selves
The spelling changes because the word changes from a singular-style -self ending to a plural -selves ending.
Ourselves in Everyday English
Ourselves is extremely natural in ordinary speech.
You will hear it in expressions such as:
We enjoyed ourselves.
We need to look after ourselves.
We should give ourselves more time.
We made ourselves dinner.
We introduced ourselves.
We bought ourselves new phones.
These are ordinary English constructions.
Using ourself in these sentences would normally sound unusual or incorrect if we refers to multiple people.
Ourselves in Professional Writing
In business and professional writing, ourselves is completely normal.
Examples:
We should give ourselves enough time to review the proposal.
We need to ask ourselves whether the current strategy is sustainable.
We introduced ourselves to the client before the meeting.
We should prepare ourselves for questions from the board.
Professional writing does not require avoiding reflexive pronouns.
The important thing is to use the form that agrees with the subject.
Ourselves in Academic Writing
Academic writers commonly use ourselves when discussing a research group, authors, or people in general.
Examples:
We must ask ourselves whether this assumption remains valid.
We should examine the evidence for ourselves.
As researchers, we need to remind ourselves of the limitations of the study.
However, academic style often favors precise and economical wording. Do not insert ourselves merely to sound formal.
Ourself in Formal Writing
Ourself may appear in highly formal, historical, institutional, or specialized writing.
For example:
We have examined the matter ourself.
This may be grammatically meaningful if we refers to a single person using a formal we.
But a modern business writer should not normally choose this form simply because it sounds sophisticated.
In ordinary professional writing, a clearer construction would often be:
I have examined the matter myself.
This is one of the most useful editing principles here:
If “we” is really one person, consider whether “I” and “myself” would communicate the meaning more naturally.
British English vs American English
There is no ordinary British-versus-American split in which Americans use ourselves and British speakers use ourself.
Ourselves is standard in both major varieties of English.
Ourself has specialized uses in both British and American English, including historical or formal contexts, but it is not the normal everyday replacement for ourselves.
So this is not primarily a US vs UK spelling difference.
The key distinction is standard everyday usage versus specialized usage.
20+ Real-Life Examples
The following examples show how ourselves and ourself behave in different contexts.
Everyday Conversation
- We bought ourselves some coffee.
- We should give ourselves a break.
- We really enjoyed ourselves at the party.
- We need to remind ourselves to lock the door.
- We taught ourselves how to cook.
Family and Social Situations
- We introduced ourselves to our new neighbors.
- We found ourselves talking about our childhoods.
- We kept the surprise to ourselves.
- We promised ourselves that we would visit again.
- We made ourselves comfortable in the living room.
School and Education
- We challenged ourselves with a more difficult assignment.
- We should test ourselves before the final exam.
- We taught ourselves the basics of Spanish.
- We asked ourselves why the experiment had failed.
Business
- We need to prepare ourselves for the client presentation.
- We introduced ourselves before discussing the proposal.
- We should ask ourselves whether the plan is realistic.
- We completed the first stage by ourselves.
Professional Writing
- We should hold ourselves accountable for the outcome.
- We need to remind ourselves of the original objective.
- We found ourselves facing an unexpected delay.
Academic Writing
- We should ask ourselves whether the evidence supports this conclusion.
- We must examine the data for ourselves before drawing conclusions.
Social Media
- We challenged ourselves to finish the project in one week.
- We finally treated ourselves to a weekend away!
Text Messages
- We got ourselves pizza.
- We can handle this ourselves.
- We had the whole place to ourselves.
Specialized “Ourself” Context
- We have considered the matter ourself.
This sentence can be understood in a specialized context where we represents one person. It would sound unusual in normal conversation.
- We have reserved unto ourself the right to make the final decision.
This has a strongly formal or historical tone and is not normal everyday English.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using “ourself” for a normal plural “we”
Wrong in standard everyday usage:
We need to protect ourself.
Correct:
We need to protect ourselves.
Why?
Because we refers to multiple people, so the standard reflexive form is ourselves.
Mistake 2: Thinking “ourself” is simply the singular form of “ourselves”
It is tempting to assume:
ourselves = plural
ourself = singular
But English does not work that simply here.
If you are talking about one person, the normal subject is generally I, not we.
So instead of:
I prepared ourself.
you would write:
I prepared myself.
Mistake 3: Using “ourself” because “self” feels singular
A writer may reason:
“We” sounds like a group, but “self” is singular, so maybe ourself is more logical.
English grammar is based on established usage, not just logical word formation.
The standard reflexive pronoun corresponding to ordinary we is:
ourselves
Mistake 4: Using “ourselves” when “us” is required
Not every sentence involving we needs a reflexive pronoun.
Compare:
They invited us.
with:
We invited ourselves.
The first sentence involves two different groups.
The second sentence means the group represented by we performed the action on itself.
Do not use ourselves merely because we appears somewhere in the sentence.
Mistake 5: Using “ourselves” as the subject
A common mistake is:
Ourselves will handle the project.
Standard English requires:
We will handle the project ourselves.
Reflexive pronouns generally do not replace ordinary subject pronouns.
We is the subject.
Ourselves adds reflexive meaning or emphasis.
Mistake 6: Using “ourself” to sound formal
Some writers assume that unusual words automatically make writing more sophisticated.
They do not.
In most modern professional contexts:
We have reviewed the document ourselves.
is natural.
We have reviewed the document ourself.
is likely to distract the reader unless a special use of singular we is intended.
Can You Say “We Ourselves”?
Yes.
We ourselves is grammatically correct and is used for emphasis.
For example:
We ourselves witnessed the event.
The phrase emphasizes that the speakers personally witnessed it.
Compare:
We witnessed the event.
This simply states the fact.
We ourselves witnessed the event.
This stresses who witnessed it.
Can You Say “By Ourselves”?
Yes.
By ourselves is one of the most common expressions containing ourselves.
It generally means:
- alone
- without other people
- without assistance
Examples:
We built the table by ourselves.
We completed the assignment by ourselves.
We traveled by ourselves.
We fixed the problem by ourselves.
Can You Say “To Ourselves”?
Yes.
To ourselves commonly means something belongs exclusively to us or is available only to us.
For example:
We had the beach to ourselves.
This means there were no other people using the beach in the relevant context.
Another example:
We kept the information to ourselves.
Here, it means we did not share the information with others.
Can “Ourselves” Refer to People in General?
Yes.
English sometimes uses ourselves to refer to people generally, particularly when the writer or speaker includes themselves as part of humanity or a broader group.
For example:
We should be honest with ourselves.
Here, ourselves may refer broadly to human beings rather than a narrowly defined group.
Another example:
We sometimes create problems for ourselves.
The sentence can describe people generally.
This use is standard.
Is “Ourself” Outdated?
Not exactly—but much of its traditional use is old-fashioned or highly specialized.
Historical English contains examples of ourself in formal contexts where a single speaker uses we.
Modern dictionaries also record contemporary uses, including cases where we refers to people in general or where the construction is otherwise specialized.
However, this does not make ourself an everyday alternative to ourselves.
Think of it this way:
Exists in English ≠ preferred in ordinary English
That distinction prevents many vocabulary and grammar mistakes.
Can “Ourself” Be Used With Singular “They”?
Usually, this is not the construction you should reach for.
If a sentence uses singular they to refer to one person, the reflexive forms normally associated with that construction are themself or themselves, depending on the style and context.
For example:
Someone should be able to express themselves.
or, in contexts where singular themself is appropriate:
Someone should be able to express themself.
This is separate from ourself.
The important point is that ourself is connected to “we,” not singular “they.”
Historical Background of “Ourself”
The history of ourself reflects an older feature of English: pronouns have not always followed today’s neat classroom patterns.
The word is historically built from our + self, just as ourselves developed from our + selves.
Older English and formal styles sometimes used plural pronouns to represent a single speaker, especially when the speaker held authority.
This is the source of constructions associated with the royal we.
When a single person uses we, a reflexive form such as ourself can make grammatical sense within that system.
Over time, however, ordinary modern English standardized around the familiar pattern:
I → myself
we → ourselves
As a result, ourself became much less common outside specialized contexts.
Style Guide and Editing Advice
For normal modern writing, the best editing rule is simple:
Use “ourselves” when “we” means a group.
We prepared ourselves for the interview.
Consider “myself” when one person means “I.”
I prepared myself for the interview.
Use “ourself” only when the context genuinely requires singular “we” or another recognized specialized construction.
This is particularly important in:
- business communication
- academic writing
- websites
- school assignments
- formal reports
- emails
- professional documentation
If your reader has to stop and wonder why you wrote ourself, the construction probably needs reconsideration.
A Simple Decision Test
When you are unsure, ask three questions.
Question 1: Does “we” refer to more than one person?
If yes:
ourselves
Example:
We reminded ourselves about the meeting.
Question 2: Does “we” actually refer to one person?
If yes, ask whether there is a genuine reason to use formal or specialized we.
If not, change we to I.
I reminded myself about the meeting.
Question 3: Is this a historical, royal, editorial, or intentionally specialized context?
If yes, ourself may be appropriate depending on the construction and style.
If no, ourselves is normally the safer choice for ordinary plural we.
Memory Tricks
Trick 1: Count the people
If we = two or more people, think:
selves
So:
we → ourselves
Trick 2: Match “I” and “we”
Remember this pair:
I → myself
we → ourselves
That one comparison solves most questions.
Trick 3: “By ourselves” is your clue
If you can naturally say:
We did it by ______.
the answer is:
ourselves
Not:
ourself
Trick 4: Don’t confuse “singular-looking” with “singular meaning”
The word ourself looks like a natural singular counterpart to ourselves, but normal modern English does not use it that way for an ordinary singular speaker.
For one speaker, English normally uses:
I → myself
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “ourselves” or “ourself” correct?
Ourselves is correct for ordinary plural we. Ourself is a specialized form used in limited contexts, including some situations where we refers to one person.
Is “ourself” a real word?
Yes. Major English dictionaries recognize ourself, but it has much more restricted usage than ourselves. It may occur in historical, formal, specialized, or some nonstandard constructions.
Can I use “ourself” instead of “ourselves”?
Usually, no. If we refers to yourself and other people, use ourselves.
We taught ourselves.
not:
We taught ourself.
Is “ourself” singular?
In its specialized use, ourself can correspond to a singular person represented by we. But it should not be treated as the normal everyday singular equivalent of ourselves.
For ordinary singular reference, use:
I → myself
Is “ourselves” always plural?
In its standard reflexive use, ourselves refers to the speaker and at least one other person. It can also be used more broadly in expressions where we represents people in general.
Is “ourself” British English?
Ourself has historical and specialized uses in British English, but it is not the ordinary British alternative to ourselves. British speakers normally use ourselves when we refers to a group.
Is “ourself” American English?
It can occur in American English in specialized contexts, including historical or formal uses. It is not the normal everyday replacement for ourselves.
Should I use “ourself” in formal writing?
Generally, no—not unless the context specifically calls for singular we or another recognized specialized construction. In ordinary formal writing, ourselves is the normal choice for plural we.
What is the reflexive pronoun for “we”?
The standard reflexive pronoun for we is ourselves.
We should take care of ourselves.
Can “ourselves” be used for emphasis?
Yes.
We ourselves made the decision.
Here, ourselves emphasizes the subject we.
Is “ourselves” a reflexive or intensive pronoun?
It can be either, depending on its function.
In:
We blamed ourselves.
it is reflexive.
In:
We ourselves checked the documents.
it is emphatic or intensive.
Ourselves vs Ourself: At a Glance
If you only remember one section of this article, remember this:
| If you mean… | Use |
|---|---|
| Yourself + another person or people | ourselves |
| Ordinary plural “we” | ourselves |
| “We” acting on the same group | ourselves |
| “We” emphasizing the group | ourselves |
| “By we/us alone” | by ourselves |
| A single person using formal “we” | ourself may occur |
| Historical/royal/editorial “we” | ourself may occur |
| Ordinary singular “I” | myself, not ourself |
Final Verdict
When comparing ourselves vs ourself, the answer depends on what we represents.
For normal modern English, the rule is straightforward:
We + plural meaning → ourselves
Use ourselves when you mean yourself and one or more other people:
We prepared ourselves.
We enjoyed ourselves.
We completed the work ourselves.
We need to look after ourselves.
Ourself is not simply the standard singular version of ourselves. It has a limited role in English and can appear when we refers to one person, particularly in historical, royal, formal, editorial, or other specialized contexts. Some modern uses are also treated as nonstandard.
So if you are writing an email, essay, business document, school assignment, article, or ordinary conversation, ourselves is almost certainly the form you need when your subject is plural “we.”
The simplest rule to remember is:
I → myself
We → ourselves
And if you encounter ourself, do not automatically assume it is a typo. Instead, look at what we means and examine the context.
Best practice: Use ourselves for ordinary plural we. Reserve ourself for contexts where its specialized usage is genuinely intended.
Evan Bennett is a language enthusiast who writes simple, clear guides about word meanings, slang, phrases, and everyday expressions.
He helps readers understand modern language quickly with easy explanations and useful examples.