“Myself” and “my self” look almost identical, but they do not serve the same grammatical purpose. In standard English,
myself is normally a single reflexive or emphatic pronoun, while my self consists of the possessive adjective my and the noun self.
In most everyday sentences, myself is the form you need.
For example, you can say, “I did it myself” when you want to emphasize that you personally did something.
You can also say, “I hurt myself” when the action affects the same person who performs it.
By contrast, my self is used when self is functioning as a noun, often in expressions concerning your identity, personality, inner nature, or sense of identity.
Knowing whether self is acting as a noun or whether you need a pronoun makes the difference much easier to understand.
Quick Answer
Myself is the standard reflexive and emphatic pronoun used with I: “I taught myself.” My self is my + the noun self and is used when referring specifically to your identity, personality, or inner nature: “I need to understand my self.” In ordinary sentences, myself is usually correct.
Why Do People Confuse “Myself” and “My Self”?
People confuse these forms because myself and my self contain exactly the same words, with only a space separating them.
The important difference is grammatical.
Myself is one word and functions as a pronoun:
- I blamed myself.
- I made it myself.
- I introduced myself.
My self contains two separate words:
- my = possessive determiner
- self = noun
For example:
I am trying to understand my self.
Here, self is being treated as a noun meaning your identity or inner being.
In modern everyday English, however, this construction is much less common than myself or alternative phrases such as my personality, my identity, or who I am.
“Myself”: Meaning and Use
Myself is a reflexive pronoun corresponding to I.
It is used when the person performing an action is also affected by that action.
Reflexive Use
Consider:
I hurt myself.
The subject is I, and the object is myself. The same person performs and receives the action.
More examples include:
- I introduced myself.
- I accidentally cut myself.
- I reminded myself to call her.
- I taught myself Spanish.
- I told myself to stay calm.
Emphatic Use
“Myself” can also emphasize that I personally performed an action.
- I myself checked the report.
- I completed the project myself.
- I spoke to the manager myself.
In these sentences, myself adds emphasis rather than serving as the direct object of the verb.
“My Self”: Meaning and Use
My self consists of two separate words: my + self.
Here, self is a noun referring to a person’s identity, character, personality, or inner being.
For example:
I want to understand my self better.
This means something like:
I want to understand who I am better.
The phrase can occur in philosophical, psychological, literary, spiritual, or reflective writing.
Examples include:
- I am learning more about my self.
- I want to reconnect with my self.
- The experience changed my sense of self.
- I spent time reflecting on my inner self.
However, many contexts sound more natural with myself or another noun phrase.
For example:
Less natural: I need to understand my self.
More natural: I need to understand myself.
But when self is deliberately being discussed as a noun or concept, my self can be meaningful and grammatically appropriate.
Myself vs My Self: Comparison Table
| Feature | Myself | My self |
|---|---|---|
| Spelling | One word | Two words |
| Grammar | Reflexive/emphatic pronoun | Possessive determiner + noun |
| Commonness | Very common | Much less common |
| Main meaning | Me, personally; reflexive form of “I” | My identity, personality, or inner being |
| Example | I did it myself. | I am exploring my self. |
| Everyday use | Yes | Relatively uncommon |
| Typical context | Conversation and ordinary writing | Reflective, philosophical, literary, or specialized contexts |
When Should You Use “Myself”?
Use myself in two main situations.
1. When the Action Comes Back to You
Use myself when I is the subject and the action affects the same person.
- I washed myself.
- I blamed myself.
- I taught myself to cook.
- I reminded myself to be patient.
2. When You Want to Add Emphasis
Use myself to mean I personally.
- I myself saw what happened.
- I completed the task myself.
- I will speak to her myself.
This emphatic use is particularly useful when you want to contrast your own involvement with someone else’s.
When Should You Use “My Self”?
Use my self when self is deliberately functioning as a noun and you are talking about your identity, inner nature, or sense of who you are.
For example:
I am trying to understand my self.
However, in normal modern English, myself is often more natural when the intended meaning is simply “me.”
Compare:
- I need to take care of myself. → I need to take care of me.
- I am exploring my self. → I am examining my identity or inner nature.
The second construction emphasizes self as a concept, which is why it appears more often in reflective or specialized writing.
10+ Examples of “Myself” and “My Self”
Examples with “Myself”
- I introduced myself to the new teacher.
- I taught myself how to play the guitar.
- I made the entire meal myself.
- I accidentally hurt myself.
- I reminded myself to lock the door.
- I will handle the situation myself.
- I asked myself an important question.
- I told myself not to worry.
Examples with “My Self”
- The experience forced me to examine my self.
- The writer explores the relationship between society and my self.
- I am trying to understand my self more deeply.
- The meditation exercise encouraged me to reconnect with my self.
In the final examples, self is being treated as a noun referring to identity or inner nature.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Writing “my self” for ordinary reflexive use
Incorrect for standard everyday usage:
I hurt my self.
Correct:
I hurt myself.
When self is part of the reflexive pronoun, it is written as one word.
Mistake 2: Using “myself” as a replacement for “me” everywhere
A common mistake is:
Please contact John or myself.
In standard English, this should normally be:
Please contact John or me.
“Myself” should not automatically replace me simply because it sounds more formal.
Mistake 3: Using “myself” instead of “I”
For example:
My colleague and myself attended the meeting.
In standard grammar, the natural form is:
My colleague and I attended the meeting.
“Myself” is not a general substitute for I.
Mistake 4: Assuming “my self” is always wrong
“My self” can be grammatically meaningful when self is genuinely being used as a noun.
For example:
I am reflecting on my self and my identity.
However, the construction is relatively uncommon in ordinary English.
A Simple Memory Trick
Use this easy rule:
Myself = me / I personally
My self = my identity or inner self
Ask yourself:
Am I talking about me personally?
If yes, myself is probably correct.
I did it myself.
If you are specifically discussing self as a noun or concept, my self may be appropriate.
I am exploring my self.
Another useful test is to replace the expression with me.
If “me” makes sense, myself may be the correct reflexive form.
American vs British English
There is no major difference between American and British English in the basic distinction between myself and my self.
Both varieties use myself as the standard reflexive pronoun:
- I hurt myself.
- I introduced myself.
- I did it myself.
Both can also use my self when self is functioning independently as a noun, although this construction is relatively uncommon in ordinary conversation.
The main issue is therefore grammar and meaning, not whether the English is American or British.
Similar Words and Expressions
Understanding related forms can make the distinction clearer.
Yourself
Yourself is the reflexive pronoun associated with you.
- You should take care of yourself.
- Did you make it yourself?
Himself
Himself is the reflexive pronoun associated with he.
- He blamed himself.
- He completed it himself.
Herself
Herself corresponds to she.
- She introduced herself.
- She did it herself.
Ourselves
Ourselves corresponds to we.
- We prepared ourselves.
- We did it ourselves.
Sense of Self
This is a common phrase for a person’s understanding of their own identity.
- The experience affected her sense of self.
- Travel helped him develop a stronger sense of self.
This expression is generally more natural than my self when discussing identity.
Final Verdict
Myself and my self are both possible, but they have different grammatical functions.
Use myself as the reflexive or emphatic pronoun associated with I:
I taught myself.
I did it myself.
Use my self when self is being used as a separate noun referring to your identity, inner nature, or sense of who you are:
I am exploring my self.
For ordinary everyday English, myself is overwhelmingly the more common form. If you are unsure, ask whether you mean “me personally” or whether you are deliberately treating self as a noun. That distinction will usually tell you which form to choose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “myself” one word or two?
Myself is one word when it is used as a reflexive or emphatic pronoun.
Example: I did it myself.
Is “my self” grammatically correct?
Yes, but it is much less common. It is correct when self functions as a noun and refers to your identity, personality, or inner being.
Which is correct: “I did it myself” or “I did it my self”?
The correct standard form is “I did it myself.” Here, myself is an emphatic pronoun.
Can I say “I hurt my self”?
No. In standard English, the reflexive pronoun is written as one word: “I hurt myself.”
Is “myself” a reflexive pronoun?
Yes. Myself is the first-person singular reflexive pronoun. It can also be used as an emphatic pronoun.
Can “myself” replace “me”?
Not generally. For example, “Please call me” is correct, while “Please call myself” is incorrect.
What is the difference between “myself” and “my inner self”?
Myself commonly means me or I personally. My inner self refers more specifically to your internal identity, feelings, thoughts, or personality.
Remember This
- Myself = one word and usually a reflexive or emphatic pronoun.
- My self = two words: my + noun self.
- Use myself in sentences such as “I taught myself.”
- Use myself for emphasis: “I did it myself.”
- Use my self only when self is intentionally functioning as a noun.
- Myself is much more common in everyday English.
- Do not use myself as a general replacement for I or me.
Conclusion
The difference between myself and my self is mainly a matter of grammar and meaning. Myself is a standard reflexive and emphatic pronoun, so it appears in common sentences such as “I hurt myself,” “I introduced myself,” and “I completed the work myself.” Because it is so common, this is the form you will need in most everyday situations.
My self has a more specific function. It treats self as a separate noun and can refer to your identity, personality, or inner nature. Although grammatically possible, it is much less common and often sounds more reflective, philosophical, literary, or specialized. When you mean simply “me” or “I personally,” choose myself.
