Themselves vs Theirselves: Which One Is Correct?

Have you ever written a sentence like “They should do it themselves” and suddenly wondered whether “theirselves” might be the right word instead? You are not alone. The confusion surrounding themselves vs theirselves is common because theirselves may sound logical at first. After all, we have words such as their, themselves, and other pronouns that can make English reflexive forms seem inconsistent.

The good news is that the rule is much simpler than it looks. In standard modern US English, themselves is the correct and widely accepted reflexive pronoun for they. Theirselves exists as a historical and dialectal form, but it is not the standard choice for formal or general American English writing. Merriam-Webster specifically labels theirselves as “chiefly dialectal,” while defining themselves as the standard reflexive form of they.

In this guide, we will break down themselves vs theirselves, explain why the confusion happens, provide practical examples, and show you exactly which form to use in everyday, academic, professional, and online writing. Leaped vs Leapt | There vs Their vs Theyre | Ditto vs Diddo

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Quick Answer: Themselves vs Theirselves

Themselves is the standard reflexive pronoun used with they and is the correct choice in standard US English.

Theirselves is a real word, but it is chiefly dialectal and is not normally used in standard formal English.

Correct:

The students organized the event themselves.

Usually incorrect in standard US English:

The students organized the event theirselves.

So, if you are writing an essay, email, article, business document, résumé, or other standard English text, choose themselves.

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Understanding the Basics

To understand themselves vs theirselves, you first need to understand what a reflexive pronoun is.

A reflexive pronoun refers back to the subject of a sentence. In other words, the person or thing performing the action is also the person or thing receiving the action.

For example:

They taught themselves how to play guitar.

Here, they is the subject, while themselves refers back to they.

English has a standard set of reflexive pronouns:

• I → myself
• You → yourself
• He → himself
• She → herself
• It → itself
• We → ourselves
• You → yourselves
• They → themselves

Cambridge Grammar identifies themselves as the reflexive pronoun corresponding to they.

Comparison Table

Form	Type	Meaning	Example	Correct/Incorrect
themselves	Reflexive pronoun	Refers back to they	They prepared themselves.	✅ Correct
themselves	Emphatic pronoun	Adds emphasis to they	They themselves approved it.	✅ Correct
theirselves	Dialectal reflexive form	Variant meaning themselves	They did it theirselves.	⚠️ Dialectal
theirselves	Standard formal reflexive	Intended as standard US English	They introduced theirselves.	❌ Avoid

The important point is that themselves belongs to the standard reflexive-pronoun system. Theirselves may appear in certain regional varieties of English, but it is not the standard form expected in formal US English.

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What Does “Themselves” Mean?

Themselves is the reflexive form of they.

It can refer to:

1. A group of people.
2. A group of animals or things.
3. A singular person when they is being used as a gender-neutral pronoun.
4. A subject that needs emphasis.

1. Themselves Refers to a Group

Consider this sentence:

The children dressed themselves.

The subject is the children. They performed the action of dressing, and the action affected the same people.

Breakdown:

• Subject: The children
• Verb: dressed
• Reflexive pronoun: themselves

Another example:

The employees congratulated themselves after completing the project.

The employees congratulated the same employees who completed the project.

2. Themselves Can Add Emphasis

You can also use themselves to emphasize the subject.

The managers themselves attended the meeting.

The word themselves emphasizes that the managers personally attended.

You could also write:

The managers attended the meeting themselves.

Both sentences emphasize the managers’ personal involvement.

Cambridge explains that reflexive pronouns can be used for emphasis as well as for ordinary reflexive meaning.

3. Themselves Can Refer to Singular “They”

Modern English frequently uses singular they when a person’s gender is unknown, unspecified, or when a person uses they/them pronouns.

For example:

If anyone calls, tell them to leave a message.

And:

Everyone should remind themselves to check the deadline.

Merriam-Webster recognizes themselves as a widely accepted form that can refer to a singular indefinite antecedent.

This is an important development because some writers assume that themselves can only refer to multiple people. In contemporary English, that is not necessarily true.

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What Does “Theirselves” Mean?

Theirselves is a real English word, but its status is different from that of themselves.

Merriam-Webster defines theirselves as a plural pronoun meaning themselves and labels it chiefly dialectal. Its historical record goes back centuries.

That means you may encounter theirselves in:

• Regional speech
• Dialect writing
• Historical texts
• Informal dialogue
• Certain varieties of English

For example, a character in a novel might say:

“They can take care of theirselves.”

If the author is intentionally reproducing a particular dialect, this wording may be appropriate.

However, if you are writing standard American English, use:

“They can take care of themselves.”

The distinction is therefore not as simple as saying theirselves is not a word. It is a word, but it is not the standard reflexive form you should normally choose in formal US English.

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Why Is “Themselves” Correct?

The easiest way to understand the grammar is to look at the standard pronoun system.

The subject pronoun is:

they

The object pronoun is:

them

The possessive determiner is:

their

The possessive pronoun is:

theirs

The reflexive pronoun is:

themselves

Notice that the reflexive form is based on them + selves, not their + selves.

That is why we say:

• they → themselves
• them → themselves

rather than:

• they → theirselves

This pattern becomes easier when you compare other pronouns.

Compare the Forms

We say:

he → him → his → himself

We do not normally say:

he → his → hisself

Similarly:

they → them → their → themselves

The standard reflexive form is themselves, not theirselves.

Cambridge’s reflexive-pronoun chart explicitly pairs they with themselves.

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The Difference in One Simple Rule

If you need a quick grammar rule for themselves vs theirselves, remember this:

Use “themselves” in standard English. Use “theirselves” only when intentionally reproducing a dialect or regional variety.

For example:

✅ The students completed the assignment themselves.

❌ The students completed the assignment theirselves.

The first sentence is appropriate for standard US English.

The second may occur in dialectal speech, but it should generally be avoided in formal writing.

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Correct Meanings and Uses

Using “Themselves” as a Reflexive Object

The most common use is when the subject and object refer to the same people.

The players blamed themselves for the loss.

Here:

• The players = subject
• blamed = verb
• themselves = object referring back to the players

Another example:

The guests served themselves dinner.

The guests performed the action, and they received the action themselves.

Using “Themselves” After a Preposition

You can also use themselves after a preposition.

The children kept the secret to themselves.

The phrase to themselves refers back to the children.

Another example:

The coworkers were talking among themselves.

Again, themselves refers to the coworkers.

Oxford lists examples such as people arguing “amongst themselves” and describes themselves as the reflexive form of they.

Using “Themselves” for Emphasis

Sometimes themselves does not function as the direct object of a verb. Instead, it emphasizes the subject.

The authors themselves reviewed every chapter.

This tells readers that the authors personally performed the review.

Another example:

The students themselves designed the website.

The emphasis is on who actually designed it.

Using “By Themselves”

The phrase by themselves commonly means either alone or without help.

The children walked home by themselves.

This can mean they walked without an adult.

The employees completed the project by themselves.

This means they completed it without outside assistance.

Oxford also recognizes by themselves as an expression meaning alone or without help.

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Test Tip: How Can You Check the Right Form?

When you are unsure about themselves vs theirselves, use this three-step test.

Step 1: Find the Subject

Ask:

Who is performing the action?

Example:

The volunteers prepared themselves for the event.

The answer is the volunteers.

Step 2: Replace the Group With “They”

The volunteers = they.

So the reflexive form should be:

themselves

Step 3: Check the Standard Reflexive Form

The standard form corresponding to they is themselves.

Therefore:

The volunteers prepared themselves for the event. ✅

Not:

The volunteers prepared theirselves for the event. ❌

This test works especially well when you are proofreading quickly.

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A Real-Life Workplace Case Study

Imagine a manager sends an email to a team after a successful project.

A team member writes:

The designers should be proud of theirselves for completing the campaign early.

The meaning is understandable, but theirselves is not the standard choice for professional US English.

A polished version would be:

The designers should be proud of themselves for completing the campaign early.

Now consider a slightly different sentence:

The designers themselves presented the campaign to the client.

Here, themselves adds emphasis. It tells us that the designers personally presented the work.

This distinction matters in workplace communication because small grammar choices can influence how polished and professional your writing appears.

Another Workplace Example

Imagine an employee writes:

The team members organized the event theirselves.

A standard version is:

The team members organized the event themselves.

The correction is simple, but it makes the sentence align with standard written English.

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Grammar Rules for Themselves vs Theirselves

Standard grammar references consistently recognize themselves as the standard reflexive form associated with they.

Cambridge lists the following relationship:

they → themselves

and explains that reflexive pronouns refer back to the subject of a sentence.

Merriam-Webster defines themselves as a plural pronoun used reflexively, for emphasis, and in other constructions. It also recognizes its use with indefinite singular antecedents.

At the same time, Merriam-Webster has a separate entry for theirselves, labeling it chiefly dialectal and defining it as a variant meaning themselves.

This distinction is important.

It would be inaccurate to say:

“Theirselves has never been a word.”

It would also be misleading to tell standard US English learners:

“Theirselves and themselves are equally appropriate everywhere.”

They are not.

The safest standard-English rule is:

Use themselves in ordinary writing.

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Why Do People Say “Theirselves”?

The form theirselves is understandable because English learners and native speakers can naturally see a connection between:

• their
• themselves
• their own

Someone may reason:

their + selves = theirselves

That reasoning seems logical, but English does not form every reflexive pronoun by simply adding -selves to the possessive form.

Standard English has developed its own pronoun forms.

For example, we say:

They introduced themselves.

We do not normally say:

They introduced theirselves.

The form themselves is established through standard usage and grammar.

Influence of Spoken Language

Speech can also contribute to the confusion.

People often speak more quickly than they write. Regional pronunciation and local grammar patterns can make dialectal forms sound completely natural to native speakers.

Someone who regularly hears theirselves in their community may naturally use it.

That does not make the speaker unintelligent or careless. It simply reflects linguistic variation.

However, when the goal is standard written US English, themselves is the better choice.

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Common Mistakes With Themselves vs Theirselves

Several factors can cause writers to choose the wrong form.

1. Fast Typing

When people type quickly, they often rely on familiar word patterns.

Because their is such a common word, the brain may automatically produce theirselves.

2. Autocorrect

Autocorrect can sometimes create additional confusion.

A writer may type a dialectal or unusual form and receive a correction, or a device may fail to recognize what the writer intended.

This is one reason proofreading is still important.

3. Lack of Grammar Knowledge

People who have never learned the standard reflexive-pronoun system may reasonably assume that theirselves is formed from their.

Once you learn the pattern, the distinction becomes much easier.

4. Regional Dialects

Some speakers use theirselves naturally because it belongs to a regional variety of English.

In that context, the form can have a legitimate linguistic role.

But regional acceptability does not automatically make a word the preferred form in standard US English.

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Similar Grammar Confusions

The themselves vs theirselves question belongs to a larger group of English problems where words sound similar or appear logically interchangeable.

Confusion	Correct Standard Form	Common Mistake	Main Difference
themselves vs theirselves	themselves	theirselves	Standard reflexive vs dialectal variant
it’s vs its	it’s / its	mixing them up	It’s = it is; its = possessive
your vs you’re	your / you’re	mixing them up	Your = possessive; you’re = you are
they’re vs their vs there	they’re / their / there	mixing them up	Different meanings and grammatical roles
then vs than	then / than	mixing them up	Time/order vs comparison
affect vs effect	affect / effect	mixing them up	Different grammatical roles and meanings
who’s vs whose	who’s / whose	mixing them up	Who’s = who is; whose = possession

The solution is usually the same: understand each word’s grammatical function rather than relying only on how it sounds.

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Usage in Different Contexts

Everyday Conversation

In ordinary conversation, themselves is the standard form.

Examples:

They can take care of themselves.

The kids made themselves lunch.

They bought the tickets themselves.

You may hear theirselves in some regional varieties, but themselves is the safer general form.

Professional Writing

Professional writing calls for standard grammar.

Use themselves in:

• Business emails
• Reports
• Resumes
• Cover letters
• Workplace documentation
• Presentations
• Proposals
• Official correspondence

For example:

Employees are responsible for familiarizing themselves with company policies.

This sounds polished and professional.

Academic Writing

In academic writing, standard English is especially important.

Write:

Participants were asked to identify themselves before beginning the study.

Avoid:

Participants were asked to identify theirselves before beginning the study.

The first version follows standard English grammar.

Creative Writing

Creative writing is more flexible.

An author may intentionally use theirselves to make a character’s dialogue sound regional or historically specific.

For example:

“They can look after theirselves,” the old farmer said.

Here, the unusual form may be intentional characterization.

In this context, correcting the word could actually remove part of the character’s voice.

Social Media and Texting

Social media is informal, so you may encounter almost any spelling or grammatical form.

Even so, if you want your writing to be clear and standard, use:

themselves

rather than:

theirselves

Informal writing gives you more freedom, but standard grammar remains useful when you want your message to look polished.

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Why It Matters

At first glance, the difference between themselves vs theirselves may seem tiny. After all, most readers will understand what someone means.

But accurate grammar serves several important purposes.

Clarity

Standard forms reduce uncertainty.

When readers see themselves, they immediately recognize the familiar reflexive pronoun.

Professionalism

In professional settings, correct grammar can affect how polished your communication appears.

A small grammatical issue may not change the meaning, but repeated errors can make writing seem less carefully edited.

Digital Communication

Emails, websites, online articles, social media posts, and professional profiles are often the first places people encounter your writing.

Clear grammar helps your message appear credible and trustworthy.

A Simple Reminder

Clear words make clear communication.

Choosing the standard form is one small way to make your writing easier to understand.

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Special Exception: When “Theirselves” Can Be Appropriate

There is an important exception worth remembering.

Theirselves is not simply a meaningless spelling error.

Merriam-Webster recognizes it as a word and labels it chiefly dialectal.

Therefore, theirselves can be appropriate when you are intentionally representing a particular dialect or speech pattern.

For example, an author writing realistic dialogue may use:

“They better get theirselves ready.”

If that wording reflects the character’s established dialect, changing it to themselves could make the dialogue less authentic.

The key is intent.

If you are writing standard US English, use themselves.

If you are deliberately reproducing dialect, historical language, or a character’s individual speech, theirselves may have a purpose.

What About “Themself”?

There is another interesting form: themself.

This should not be confused with theirselves.

Merriam-Webster recognizes themself as a gender-neutral reflexive form of they, particularly when they refers to a single person.

For example:

Every employee should ask themself whether the decision is fair.

However, themselves is also widely used for singular they, and Merriam-Webster documents that usage.

So the modern discussion involves three different forms:

• themselves — standard and widely accepted
• themself — increasingly used with singular they
• theirselves — chiefly dialectal

These forms have different histories and uses.

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Themselves vs Theirselves in Singular “They” Sentences

Singular they can create another layer of confusion.

Consider:

If someone wants help, they should ask themselves whether they need assistance.

Here, someone is singular, but English uses singular they.

Merriam-Webster recognizes themselves in this kind of construction.

You should not replace it with:

If someone wants help, they should ask theirselves whether they need assistance.

In standard English, themselves remains the normal choice.

Another example:

Anyone can remind themselves to stay focused.

This is natural modern English.

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Examples: Correct vs Incorrect

Here are several examples to make the difference easier to remember.

Example 1

❌ The children washed theirselves.

✅ The children washed themselves.

Example 2

❌ The workers completed the task theirselves.

✅ The workers completed the task themselves.

Example 3

❌ They bought theirselves new computers.

✅ They bought themselves new computers.

Example 4

❌ The players blamed theirselves for the mistake.

✅ The players blamed themselves for the mistake.

Example 5

❌ The volunteers introduced theirselves.

✅ The volunteers introduced themselves.

Example 6

❌ The students organized the event theirselves.

✅ The students organized the event themselves.

Example 7

❌ They should be proud of theirselves.

✅ They should be proud of themselves.

The pattern is consistent: in standard US English, themselves is the form to choose.

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How to Remember the Rule

If you frequently struggle with themselves vs theirselves, use this memory trick:

They → Them → Themselves

Think of the standard pronoun family:

They = subject
Them = object
Their = possessive determiner
Theirs = possessive pronoun
Themselves = reflexive pronoun

The reflexive form follows them, not their.

So:

They did it themselves.

That is the standard construction.

Another Memory Trick

Think:

Them + selves = themselves

Not:

Their + selves = theirselves

This simple pattern can prevent the mistake.

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Quick Recap Checklist

Use this checklist whenever you are deciding between the two forms.

Question	If Yes → Use
Am I referring back to they?	themselves
Am I writing standard US English?	themselves
Am I writing a professional email?	themselves
Am I writing an academic paper?	themselves
Am I emphasizing a plural subject?	themselves
Am I using a dialect intentionally?	theirselves may be appropriate
Am I writing realistic regional dialogue?	theirselves may be appropriate

Practice Example 1

The students completed the project ______.

Answer: themselves

Practice Example 2

The children prepared ______ for the competition.

Answer: themselves

Practice Example 3

The characters spoke in a regional dialect and said they could handle it ______.

Answer: theirselves may be appropriate if the dialect is intentional.

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Five-Second Grammar Test

Still unsure? Try this:

Can you replace the word with “himself,” “herself,” or “ourselves” in a similar grammatical position?

For example:

She prepared herself.

Plural:

They prepared themselves.

The pattern becomes clear.

You would not normally write:

She prepared herselves.

Therefore, the standard plural reflexive form is:

They prepared themselves.

This quick comparison can help reinforce the correct form.

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FAQs

1. Is “themselves” or “theirselves” correct?

Themselves is the standard choice in modern US English. Theirselves is a real word, but Merriam-Webster labels it chiefly dialectal.

2. Is “theirselves” grammatically wrong?

In standard US English, theirselves should generally be avoided. However, it is recognized as a dialectal form meaning themselves, so calling it universally “wrong” would ignore its use in regional varieties of English.

3. Why do people say “theirselves”?

The form may arise from the understandable but nonstandard idea that their + selves should produce theirselves. It can also be influenced by regional dialects and spoken English.

4. Can “themselves” refer to one person?

Yes. Modern English commonly uses themselves with singular they, especially when the person’s gender is unknown, unspecified, or intentionally not identified. Merriam-Webster documents this usage.

5. Is “themself” correct?

Themself is an established form increasingly used with singular they, particularly for a specific person who uses they/them pronouns. Merriam-Webster recognizes it as a gender-neutral reflexive form.

6. Should I use “theirselves” in formal writing?

Generally, no. For formal, academic, business, and standard US English, use themselves. Reserve theirselves for situations where a dialectal or regional form is intentionally being represented.

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Conclusion

The difference between themselves vs theirselves becomes easy once you understand the standard reflexive-pronoun system.

Themselves is the standard reflexive form of they. It can refer to multiple people and is also widely used with singular they. It can function reflexively, as in “They blamed themselves,” or emphatically, as in “They themselves approved the plan.”

Theirselves, on the other hand, is a recognized but chiefly dialectal form meaning themselves. It may appear in regional speech, historical writing, or intentionally dialectal dialogue, but it is not the preferred form for standard US English.

The safest rule is simple:

They → themselves.

So write:

They completed the work themselves.

not:

They completed the work theirselves.

Once you remember that themselves is the standard reflexive form of they, this common grammar confusion becomes much easier to avoid.

Conclusion

When comparing themselves vs theirselves, the choice is straightforward for standard US English: themselves is the form you should normally use. It is the standard reflexive pronoun associated with they and works in sentences involving plural subjects, singular they, and emphasis.

Theirselves is not simply a random misspelling. It is a documented English word, but it is chiefly dialectal. That means it can have a legitimate role in regional speech, historical language, or creative writing when a specific dialect is being represented.

For everyday standard writing, however, remember the simple pattern:

They → them → themselves.

When in doubt, choose themselves. It is clear, standard, professional, and widely understood.

The easiest rule to remember: If the subject is “they,” the standard reflexive form is “themselves.”