"I myself have done that."
"Jim, Susie, and myself were planning a trip."
"He wasn't even sure hisself how to go about it."
"You need to give that to myself when you are done."
"They decided just to do that theirselves."
Which ones are correct? Which ones are unacceptable? Why?
The words "myself," "himself," "herself," "ourselves," and "themselves" are reflexive pronouns. Reflexive use is not
often addressed in grammar books. We find present, past, future, and perfect tenses. And we find the various cases
of pronouns. Both of those are enough to keep the average person confused! Then the "myself" word rears its ugly
head and there are few books that offer rules for its use. Let me offer some guidelines.
First, there are no such words as "hisself" or "theirselves." The correct reflexive forms for "him" and "them" use the
objective case and become "himself" and "themselves." A good way to remember this is that the word "remember"
has "m's" in it. "Himself" and "themselves" both have "m's." Another memory tool is to substitute "him" or "them" in the
following sentence: "Give it to HIM." You would not say "Give it to HIS." That is because "him" and "them" are objective
case and "his" and "their" are possessives.
Second, reflexive use reinforces the subject. That means there must BE a subject. For instance, the sentence "I
myself have done the very same thing" is correct. "I" is the subject. The word "myself" reinforces that you are talking
about no one else other than the "I" that is the subject. It is also correct to use the reflexive in third person, as in the
sentence "The boss herself told me I could do that." Again, there is a subject that is being reinforced. "The boss" is
the subject. "Told" is the verb. You would have a sentence even if the reflexive word "herself," were removed, i.e.
"The boss told me." Adding the word "herself" is for emphasis.
Consider the sentence "Paula, Tim, and myself went to the show." Since "Paula, Tim, and myself" comprise the
subject, they must be in nominative case. Myself is NEVER nominative. It can never be a subject. Therefore, the
sentence should read, "Paula, Tim, and I went to the show." If the author of the sentence wishes to add emphasis to
the "I," then the sentence can read, "Paula, Tim, and I myself went to the show."
It IS correct, however, to use reflexive pronouns in objective case instances such as indirect object or direct object.
Here are examples:
I hurt myself. ("I" is subject. "Hurt" is the verb." "Myself" is the direct object.)
I gave myself a manicure. ("I" is subject. "Gave" is the verb. “Manicure" is the direct object. "Myself" is the indirect
object.)
Lastly, the words "myself," "himself," "herself," "ourselves," and "themselves" can also be used as objects of
prepositions. Examples are "She did that by herself" or "He did that to himself." It can, however, become confusing
when the preposition is "understood." In the sentence, "She did that herself," it is understood that a preposition
precedes "herself." With the elliptical preposition in place, the sentence might read "She did that BY herself." Note
that these instances are with objects of prepositions that are used in adverbial phrases. The phrases answer the
question "how." Adverbs can also answer the questions "when," "where," and "why." Reflexive pronouns are normally
not used in sentences where the adverbial phrase answers any other question than "how." For instance, it is not
considered standard grammar to say "He gave it to myself. " Correct usage would be "He gave it to me."
Here are some practice exercises. Write C by the sentence numbers that are correct. Rewrite the sentences that
have errors.
1. Sam, Tim, and myself are headed camping now.
2. Give the paperwork to myself.
3. She accomplished that work all by herself.
4. They were concerned for theirselves in such an unsafe situation.
5. He just has to fix that hisself.
6. I want him to do the job himself.
7. I myself believe that also.
8. The players themselves are willing to clean the field.
9. She asked herself some probing questions.
10. He gave hisself a good lecture.
11. Sammy gave a copy of that memo to Jim, Tom, and myself.
12. Elizabeth sang quietly to herself.
AFFECT ... EFFECT ...
Two very confusing words often misused. Cause and effect, sound effects, weather that affects your
health, an affected tone of voice … a spelling nightmare.
Let's look at basic definitions and parts of speech.
AFFECT – verb – to act upon, to change or to cause a change
AFFECTED – adjective – influenced by an outside force
EFFECT – noun – result; consequence
(Note: there is one exception to this rule. When effect is used to indicate a scientific "cause and effect"
instance, then it may be used as a verb. An example is: Do you know the name of the doctor who effected
a cure for rabies?)
Although the definitions are certainly beneficial in knowing which spelling of similar-sounding words to
use, it is the part of speech that gives us the best clue. Here are examples:
1. She knew the _________ of the weather would impact the arthritis in her knee negatively.
Two clauses are seen here: She (subject) knew (verb) and _________ (subject) would impact (verb)
A noun must go in the blank to act as the subject. Therefore, the only spelling choice available to us is
EFFECT. She knew the EFFECT of the weather would impact the arthritis in her knee.
2. The weather always _____________ the arthritis in her knee.
One clause: weather (subject) _____________ (verb)
The verb form is spelled AFFECT. Past tense becomes AFFECTED.
The weather always AFFECTED the arthritis in her knee.
3. The _________ knee responded negatively to the damp weather due to its arthritic condition.
One clause: knee (subject) responded (verb)
The blank before the noun must be filled by an adjective.
Therefore, the spelling must be AFFECTED.
The AFFECTED knee responded negatively to the damp weather due to its arthritic condition.
EXERCISES:
The applause showed how deeply the presentation had _____________ the audience.
His attitude was _________________ by his upbringing.
What ____________ do you think the news will have on her?
No matter what he does, it will have no _____________ on me.
No matter what he does, it will not __________________ me.
What do you think the _______ of the decision will be?
How did her son's departure _________________ Mrs. Sanago?
How was the team _______________ by the loss of their coach?
I was impressed by the _______________ of Churchill's words on Britain during that time.
Do you know what ____________ that medicine will have on you?
Two words often confused are farther and further. Is it farther down the road or further? Do you have to read further
in the book or farther? Do you further your education? Yes! Let's take a look at the meanings for these two words.
FARTHER denotes physical advancement in distance.
FURTHER denotes advancement to greater degree, as in time.
The correct answers to the above examples follow:
It is farther down the road. (For distance physically traveled.)
You read further in the book. (To a greater degree than where you are now.)
You further your education. (To a greater degree than what you have now.)
How much __________ do you plan to drive tonight?
I've reached the end of my rope with this dog chewing up the carpet. I just can't go any _____________.
Do you have any _______________ plans for adding on to the building?
That's a lot _____________ than I want to carry this machine and tripod!
The _____________ that I travel down this road, the ____________ behind schedule I get.
How much ___________ do you intend to take this legal matter?
I want to ___________ my career by taking some management courses.
It's not that much ____________ to the gas station.
How much ____________ do I have to read in this text?
How much __________ do I have to run, Coach?