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Using myself, yourself, himself and other reflexive pronouns.
Reflexive pronouns refer back to the subject of the clause.
The English reflexive pronouns are myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves and themselves.
Reflexive pronouns are formed by adding -self or -selves to possessive determiners or object pronouns.
Myself, yourself and ourselves are formed differently from himself, herself and themselves.
Use a reflexive pronoun when the subject and object refer to the same person or thing.
Example: She hurt herself while cooking.
Some actions naturally require a reflexive pronoun when performed on oneself.
Examples include cut yourself, introduce yourself and blame yourself.
Many English verbs do not use reflexive pronouns where other languages do.
Examples include wash, shave, dress, relax and feel in their ordinary meanings.
Reflexive pronouns may emphasize the subject rather than act as objects.
Examples include I wrote it myself and The manager herself approved the proposal.
By followed by a reflexive pronoun means alone, without help or independently.
Examples include She lives by herself and He solved the problem by himself.
Reflexive pronouns are used after prepositions when they refer back to the subject.
Compare She was talking to herself with She was talking to her sister.
Some common expressions regularly contain reflexive pronouns.
Examples include enjoy yourself, help yourself, make yourself at home and find yourself doing something.
Formal English generally avoids unnecessary reflexive pronouns.
Object pronouns are preferred unless a true reflexive or emphatic meaning is intended.
Oneself is used as the reflexive form of the indefinite pronoun one.
It appears mainly in formal English and general statements.
Use reflexive pronouns only when required by grammar or meaning.
Common mistakes include adding unnecessary reflexive pronouns, omitting required ones and confusing reflexive and object pronouns.