Why “Theirself” is Incorrect

“Theirself” is considered incorrect because it doesn’t follow established English grammar rules for reflexive pronouns. Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and object of a sentence refer to the same person or group, and they typically end in -self (singular) or -selves (plural).

The correct reflexive form for “they” is “themselves”. English has a set list of reflexive pronouns that are used consistently, and “theirself” is not one of them.

Correct Usage: “Themselves”

“Themselves” is the correct reflexive pronoun for “they”:

• Example: “They prepared themselves for the big exam.”

Historical Context and Common Mistakes

1. Singular They and Reflexive Forms:
   • In modern English, “they” can be used as a singular, gender-neutral pronoun. In this context, some people may feel that “themselves” seems odd for a singular use and mistakenly create forms like “theirself”. However, “themselves” is still the correct form for both singular and plural uses of “they.”
   • Example (singular they): “If anyone has questions, they should ask themselves.”
2. Reflexive Pronoun Chart:
   Here’s a quick reference for reflexive pronouns:
   • I → myself
   • You → yourself (singular) / yourselves (plural)
   • He → himself
   • She → herself
   • It → itself
   • We → ourselves
   • They → themselves

Quick Practice Exercise:

Choose the correct reflexive pronoun:

1. The students organized _____ for the group project.
2. Every person should take time to care for _____.

Answers:

1. themselves
2. themselves