Have you ever typed a sentence, paused, and thought: “Wait, is it ‘we did this ourself’ or ‘we did this ourselves’?” You’re not alone. This is one of the most common mix-ups in everyday English — and even confident writers second-guess themselves (see what happened there?) when it comes to reflexive pronouns.
In this guide, we’ll break down ourselves and ourself in plain, simple English — no confusing grammar-textbook jargon. Whether you’re a student trying to nail your grammar homework, a writer polishing your voice, or someone who just wants a quick answer before hitting “send” on an email, this article has you covered. Updated for 2026 with fresh, relatable examples pulled from real conversations, captions, and modern writing.
What Is “Ourselves” (and “Ourself”)? Definition in Simple Words
Ourselves is a reflexive and intensive pronoun. It refers back to the subject “we” when the people doing the action are also the people receiving the action, or when you want to add emphasis.
- Reflexive use: The action bounces back onto the subject. Example: “We taught ourselves how to cook.”
- Intensive use: It emphasizes that “we” did something personally, without help. Example: “We built the treehouse ourselves.”
Ourself, on the other hand, is the rare, mostly outdated singular version of “ourselves.” It’s used only in very specific situations — like the royal “we” (“We shall address the matter ourself”) or in older/formal writing where a single speaker refers to themselves using “we.” In modern, everyday English, ourself is almost never correct. If you’re writing for a class, a blog, or a business email, ourselves is nearly always the word you want.
Think of it this way: “we” always pairs with “ourselves” in standard English — no exceptions in casual or professional writing today.
How “Ourselves” Works and Is Used
Grammatically, “ourselves” pairs with the subject pronoun “we” and the object pronoun “us.” Here’s the simple pattern:
- We + verb + ourselves (reflexive: action returns to us)
- We + verb + object + ourselves (intensive: adds emphasis)
From real-life writing experience, one small trick helps almost every learner: if you can replace “ourselves” with “by ourselves” or “personally” and the sentence still makes sense, you’re using it correctly as an intensive pronoun. If removing it changes the meaning of the action (who received it), it’s reflexive.
Quick Test
- “We enjoyed ourselves at the party.” → Reflexive (can’t remove it without changing meaning)
- “We painted the fence ourselves.” → Intensive (you could remove “ourselves” and the sentence still works, just with less emphasis)
In everyday conversations, people often use “ourselves” to highlight independence, pride, or shared responsibility — like saying, “We handled it ourselves,” to show competence without outside help.
Examples of “Ourselves” in Everyday Life
Here’s how this word shows up in daily situations:
- At work: “We should give ourselves credit for finishing the project early.”
- At home: “Let’s treat ourselves to takeout tonight.”
- In friendships: “We promised ourselves we’d stay in touch.”
- In fitness: “We pushed ourselves harder this week at the gym.”
- In travel: “We got ourselves lost trying to find the trailhead.”
- On social media: “Just being ourselves today. No filters. 🌿” (a popular caption style)
These examples show how naturally “ourselves” fits into casual speech, texting, and writing without sounding stiff or overly formal.
Famous or Popular Examples
While “ourselves” isn’t typically the star of famous quotes, it appears in many memorable lines and cultural phrases:
- “We have nothing to fear but fear itself“ — a cousin construction (singular reflexive), showing the same pattern applied to “it.”
- Popular self-help language often echoes: “We owe it to ourselves to grow.”
- Motivational captions frequently use: “Bet on ourselves.” or “Investing in ourselves this year.”
These modern phrasings show up constantly in 2026-era social captions, journaling prompts, and personal development content — proof that this small grammar word carries real emotional weight in how people talk about self-growth and teamwork.
Ourselves vs Related Concepts
People often confuse “ourselves” with similar reflexive/intensive pronouns. Here’s a clear comparison:
| Word | Subject It Pairs With | Example | Correct Modern Use? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ourselves | We | “We did it ourselves.” | ✅ Always correct with “we” |
| Ourself | We (singular/royal) | “We shall handle it ourself.” | ⚠️ Rare, formal/royal only |
| Myself | I | “I did it myself.” | ✅ Correct with “I” |
| Themselves | They | “They did it themselves.” | ✅ Correct with “they” |
| Himself/Herself | He/She | “She did it herself.” | ✅ Correct with singular he/she |
| Yourself | You (singular) | “You did it yourself.” | ✅ Correct with one person |
| Yourselves | You (plural) | “You all did it yourselves.” | ✅ Correct with multiple people |
Key Takeaway
“Ourself” isn’t a typo in the sense of being “wrong English” — it’s just grammatically restricted to a narrow, formal, or historical context. For 99% of writing today (essays, emails, blogs, captions), ourselves is the word you need.
How to Use / Create Sentences With “Ourselves”
Here’s a simple step-by-step method for building correct sentences:
- Start with “we” as your subject.
- Add your main verb (the action).
- Ask: does the action reflect back onto “we,” or am I adding emphasis?
- Attach “ourselves” at the end (or after the object) to complete the reflexive or intensive meaning.
- Read it aloud — if it sounds natural and emphasizes personal involvement, it’s correct.
Example Build:
- We (subject) + organized (verb) + the event (object) + ourselves (intensive) = “We organized the event ourselves.”
This structure works for essays, poems, professional emails, and even short social captions.
Common Mistakes People Make With “Ourself” and “Ourselves”
Even skilled writers slip up. Here are the most frequent errors:
- ❌ “We did it ourself.” → ✅ “We did it ourselves.” (Plural subject needs the plural reflexive form.)
- ❌ “Myself and Sarah went ourselves.” → ✅ “Sarah and I went ourselves.” (Mixing pronoun forms incorrectly.)
- ❌ Using “ourself” in casual or business writing thinking it sounds “extra polite.” → It actually sounds grammatically incorrect to most modern readers.
- ❌ Overusing “ourselves” when a simpler sentence works better. Not every sentence needs the emphasis — sometimes “We finished the project” is cleaner than “We finished the project ourselves” if emphasis isn’t needed.
- ❌ Confusing reflexive vs. intensive use, leading to sentences that feel repetitive or awkward.
30 Practical Example Sentences Using “Ourselves”
Below is a list of everyday phrases and sentence patterns using “ourselves,” with quick context for each:
- “We surprised ourselves.” — Expressing unexpected personal achievement.
- “Let’s not fool ourselves.” — Being honest about a situation.
- “We introduced ourselves at the meeting.” — Formal social context.
- “We kept it between ourselves.” — Keeping something private.
- “We enjoyed ourselves at the concert.” — Describing having fun.
- “We pride ourselves on quality work.” — Business/professional confidence.
- “We asked ourselves hard questions.” — Reflective, introspective tone.
- “We treated ourselves to dessert.” — Casual, rewarding tone.
- “We isolated ourselves during the storm.” — Describing safety precautions.
- “We reminded ourselves to stay calm.” — Self-encouragement.
- “We challenged ourselves this year.” — Growth mindset language.
- “We embarrassed ourselves at karaoke.” — Humorous, relatable moment.
- “We limited ourselves to one hour of screen time.” — Discipline/habit talk.
- “We congratulated ourselves on the win.” — Celebratory tone.
- “We found ourselves lost downtown.” — Storytelling/travel context.
- “We prepared ourselves for the interview.” — Professional readiness.
- “We convinced ourselves it would work.” — Decision-making language.
- “We distanced ourselves from the drama.” — Social boundary-setting.
- “We pushed ourselves to finish the marathon.” — Fitness motivation.
- “We caught ourselves gossiping.” — Self-awareness moment.
- “We allowed ourselves a break.” — Self-care language.
- “We forgave ourselves for the mistake.” — Emotional healing tone.
- “We committed ourselves to the project.” — Dedication statement.
- “We educated ourselves on the topic.” — Learning-focused.
- “We protected ourselves from the rain.” — Practical/physical context.
- “We expressed ourselves through art.” — Creative writing use.
- “We adapted ourselves to the new schedule.” — Change/flexibility.
- “We surrounded ourselves with positivity.” — Social media caption style.
- “We doubted ourselves at first.” — Vulnerable, honest tone.
- “We proved ourselves capable.” — Confidence-building language.
These examples work well in essays (to show reflection), poems (to add emotional rhythm), social captions (for authenticity), and daily conversation (to sound natural and expressive).
Practical Uses in Writing and Daily Life
- In essays: Use “ourselves” to show collective reflection — “As a society, we must ask ourselves difficult questions.”
- In poems: It adds rhythm and introspection — “We lost ourselves in silence, found ourselves in sound.”
- In captions: Short, punchy, and relatable — “Just us, being ourselves.”
- In daily conversation: Natural and casual — “We should really be kinder to ourselves.”
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is “ourself” ever correct in modern English? Rarely. It’s mostly used in formal or royal speech (like “We shall proceed ourself”). In everyday writing, always use “ourselves.
2. What’s the difference between reflexive and intensive use of “ourselves”? Reflexive means the action returns to “we” (e.g., “We hurt ourselves”). Intensive adds emphasis without changing the core meaning (e.g., “We built it ourselves”).
3. Can “ourselves” be used to start a sentence? It’s uncommon but not incorrect in certain emphatic or poetic styles — e.g., “Ourselves, we chose this path.” However, it’s more natural to place it later in the sentence.
4. Why do some people mistakenly say “ourself”? It often comes from mixing up singular pronoun patterns (like “myself”) with plural subjects (“we”), leading to the incorrect blend “ourself.”
5. Is “ourselves” formal or informal? It works in both! It’s flexible enough for casual texts, professional emails, and academic essays.
Conclusion
At its core, “ourselves” is the reflexive and intensive pronoun that pairs with “we” — used to show that an action was done personally, without outside help, or that it reflects back onto the people who performed it. “Ourself,” meanwhile, is a rare, mostly formal or historical form that modern writers should generally avoid.
Getting comfortable with this small but mighty word can instantly make your writing sound more natural, confident, and precise — whether you’re crafting an essay, a heartfelt caption, or a quick text to a friend. The next time you’re unsure, just remember: if “we” is your subject, “ourselves” is almost always your answer.
Try using a few of the example sentences above in your own writing today — the more you practice, the more naturally it will come.
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