Theirselves or Themselves: Which Word Is Correct?

Have you ever seen the word theirselves and wondered if it is correct? Maybe you heard someone say it in conversation or spotted it online and questioned whether it should be themselves instead. This is a common grammar question because both words seem logical at first glance.

English contains many reflexive pronouns, such as myself, yourself, ourselves, and themselves. Because of this pattern, some people assume that theirselves should also be a standard word. However, modern English grammar follows a specific rule regarding reflexive pronouns.

Understanding the difference between theirselves or themselves can help you avoid mistakes in school assignments, professional writing, emails, and everyday communication. In this guide, you’ll learn which word is considered correct, why the confusion exists, how the words developed historically, and which form you should use in modern English.

If you’ve ever wondered whether theirselves belongs in standard English, this article provides a quick answer and a complete explanation.

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Theirselves or Themselves – Quick Answer

The quick answer is:

✅ Themselves is the correct standard English word.

❌ Theirselves is generally considered nonstandard English.

Examples

Correct:

• They taught themselves how to play guitar.
• The children enjoyed themselves at the park.
• The employees prepared themselves for the meeting.

Incorrect in standard English:

• They taught theirselves how to play guitar.
• The children enjoyed theirselves.

In modern English, themselves is the accepted reflexive pronoun.

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Posted inGrammar Knowledge UK Spelling Grammar

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The Origin of Theirselves or Themselves

The word themselves developed from older forms of English.

Historically, English reflexive pronouns evolved over centuries:

• Myself
• Yourself
• Himself
• Herself
• Ourselves
• Yourselves
• Themselves

The word theirselves has existed in some regional dialects and informal speech. In earlier forms of English, people occasionally created reflexive pronouns based on possessive forms such as their.

However, standard English eventually settled on themselves as the correct reflexive form.

Why Does “Theirselves” Exist?

People often form it by analogy:

• Myself ← my
• Yourself ← your
• Ourselves ← our

So some speakers naturally assume:

• Their + selves = theirselves

While this seems logical, modern grammar recognizes themselves as the standard form.

Read more: Supercede or Supersede – Which Spelling Is Correct?

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British English vs American English Spelling

Unlike many English words, there is no major British-American spelling difference here.

Both versions of English use themselves.

British English

• Themselves

American English

• Themselves

Comparison Table

Usage	British English	American English
Standard Form	Themselves	Themselves
Theirselves	Nonstandard	Nonstandard
Formal Writing	Themselves	Themselves
Academic Writing	Themselves	Themselves

The grammar rule is the same in both regions.

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Which Spelling Should You Use?

The answer is straightforward.

Use “Themselves”

Use themselves in:

• School assignments
• Business writing
• Academic papers
• Emails
• News articles
• Professional communication

Avoid “Theirselves”

Although it may appear in:

• Regional dialects
• Informal speech
• Literary dialogue

It is not considered standard English.

For Global Audiences

Always use themselves.

It is understood and accepted worldwide.

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Common Mistakes with Theirselves or Themselves

Here are the most common errors.

Mistake 1: Using Theirselves in Formal Writing

❌ The students prepared theirselves for the test.

✅ The students prepared themselves for the test.

Mistake 2: Confusing Reflexive Pronouns

❌ They blamed theirselves for the mistake.

✅ They blamed themselves for the mistake.

Mistake 3: Following Spoken Dialects

Some regional dialects use theirselves in conversation, but formal writing should use themselves.

Common Corrections Table

Incorrect	Correct
Theirselves	Themselves
They enjoyed theirselves	They enjoyed themselves
They taught theirselves	They taught themselves
Theirselves were ready	They themselves were ready

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Theirselves or Themselves in Everyday Examples

Emails

Correct:

• The team organized themselves efficiently.

News Articles

Correct:

• The athletes prepared themselves for the competition.

Social Media

Correct:

• They treated themselves to a nice dinner.

Formal Writing

Correct:

• Participants introduced themselves before the event.

Academic Writing

Correct:

• Students should challenge themselves to improve their skills.

In all standard contexts, themselves is the preferred choice.

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Theirselves or Themselves – Google Trends & Usage Data

Search patterns show that many people look up theirselves or themselves because they are unsure which word is grammatically correct.

Themselves

Most common in:

• Books
• Newspapers
• Academic writing
• Professional communication
• Educational materials

Theirselves

Usually appears in:

• Regional speech
• Informal conversations
• Historical texts
• Dialect writing

Usage Comparison

Word	Usage Level
Themselves	Extremely common
Theirselves	Rare and nonstandard

Modern dictionaries overwhelmingly favor themselves.

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Theirselves vs Themselves Comparison Table

Feature	Theirselves	Themselves
Standard English	No	Yes
Dictionary Preferred	No	Yes
Formal Writing	Not Recommended	Recommended
Academic Writing	Incorrect	Correct
Common Usage	Regional dialects	Worldwide
Grammar Acceptance	Limited	Universal

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FAQs

1. Is theirselves a real word?

Yes, it exists in some dialects and informal speech, but it is not considered standard English.

2. Which is correct: theirselves or themselves?

Themselves is the correct standard English form.

3. Why do some people say theirselves?

It developed naturally in certain dialects because speakers follow patterns found in other reflexive pronouns.

4. Can I use theirselves in formal writing?

No. Formal writing should use themselves.

5. Do British people use theirselves?

Some regional dialects may use it, but standard British English uses themselves.

6. Is theirselves grammatically wrong?

In standard English grammar, it is generally considered incorrect.

7. What type of word is themselves?

Themselves is a reflexive pronoun used when the subject and object are the same people.

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Conclusion

When comparing theirselves or themselves, the correct choice in standard English is clear: themselves. It is the accepted reflexive pronoun in both British and American English and appears in formal, academic, and professional writing around the world.

Although theirselves exists in some regional dialects and informal speech, it is generally considered nonstandard and should be avoided in most writing situations. Understanding this distinction helps improve grammar accuracy and ensures your communication looks polished and professional.

A simple way to remember the rule is that dictionaries, schools, publishers, and style guides all prefer themselves. Whether you’re writing an email, article, essay, or social media post, using themselves is the safest and most widely accepted option.

The next time you wonder whether to use theirselves or themselves, choose themselves with confidence.