Theirself or Themself: Which One Is Grammatically Correct(2026)

Hey, I want to share something that happened to me recently about theirself or themself.

I was chatting with a friend when I suddenly saw one of these words pop up, and honestly, I had no clue what it meant at first.

I kept thinking, “Am I missing something here?” It felt a bit confusing, and I didn’t want to reply the wrong way or sound awkward.

So, I decided to look into theirself vs themself and understand the real meaning and correct usage.

After digging a little deeper, I realized how important it is to know the difference, especially when these words appear in everyday conversations or on social media.

Once I understood which form is correct and why, I replied with confidence — and now, whenever I see theirself or themself again, I know exactly what it means and how to use it properly.

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Theirself or Themself – Quick Answer

Both theirself and themself are reflexive pronouns used to refer back to a singular antecedent (someone whose gender is unknown).

• Themself – widely accepted in modern English, especially in formal and academic writing.
  • Example: Each student should bring themself a notebook.
• Theirself – less common and often considered nonstandard in formal writing, but appears in older texts and some informal usage.
  • Example: The cat cleaned theirself thoroughly.

✅ Quick tip: If in doubt, themself is usually safer for formal writing.

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The Origin of Theirself or Themself

The history of theirself and themself dates back to Middle English.

• Theirself: First recorded in the 14th century; formed by adding -self to the plural pronoun they. It was more common historically but gradually became less standard.
• Themself: Gained popularity in the 19th and 20th centuries as writers sought a singular, gender-neutral reflexive pronoun for they.

Spelling differences exist because English has evolved over centuries, absorbing influences from French, Latin, and Germanic languages. Modern usage favors themself in standard writing, though theirself persists in dialects and informal texts.

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British English vs American English Spelling

British English and American English handle these pronouns slightly differently:

Form	British English	American English	Notes
Themself	Accepted in formal writing	Widely accepted	Standard choice in both versions
Theirself	Rare, sometimes used in historical text	Rare, mostly informal	Considered nonstandard in modern usage

📌 Key point: Both forms exist in both varieties, but themself is preferred in professional and academic contexts.

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Which Spelling Should You Use?

Choosing depends on your audience:

• US audience: Use themself in emails, essays, and social media posts.
• UK/Commonwealth audience: Themself is also safe, though some informal texts may show theirself.
• Global/neutral writing: Stick with themself to avoid confusion.

In short, themself is your safest, most universally accepted option.

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Common Mistakes with Theirself or Themself

Many writers make mistakes when using these pronouns:

• ❌ Everyone should clean theirself after class. → informal/less accepted
• ✅ Everyone should clean themself after class. → correct, standard
• ❌ The manager prided theirself on success. → nonstandard
• ✅ The manager prided themself on success. → correct

Tip: Always check if the pronoun refers to a singular or plural subject and stick with themself for formal writing.

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Theirself or Themself in Everyday Examples

• Emails: Please make sure each attendee brings themself a pen.
• News articles: A new CEO has promised to reward themself for achievements.
• Social media: Everyone should treat themself to a little fun today!
• Formal writing: Each participant must submit their completed work, ensuring themself is ready for review.

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Theirself or Themself – Google Trends & Usage Data

Search data shows themself is steadily growing in popularity, especially in English-speaking countries focused on gender-neutral writing. Theirself remains rare and mostly appears in older texts or informal posts.

Trends snapshot:

• Top countries searching for “themself”: US, UK, Canada, Australia
• Top countries searching for “theirself”: Mostly US and UK, but sporadic

This confirms that themself is the safer modern choice.

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Keyword Variations Comparison Table

Pronoun	Usage	Acceptance	Notes
Themself	Singular, gender-neutral	Standard	Recommended for formal writing
Theirself	Singular/plural, historical	Nonstandard	Rarely used in formal writing
Themselves	Plural	Standard	Only for plural subjects

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FAQs

Q1: Can I use “theirself” in formal writing?
A1: It’s not recommended; use themself instead.

Q2: Is “themself” correct for singular they?
A2: Yes, it is widely accepted as a singular, gender-neutral reflexive pronoun.

Q3: Why do people still use “theirself”?
A3: It appears in older texts and some dialects but is considered nonstandard today.

Q4: Can “themself” be used in plural sentences?
A4: No, use themselves for plural subjects.

Q5: Is there a difference between US and UK usage?
A5: Slightly, but themself is accepted in both regions.

Q6: How do I choose between “themself” and “theirself”?
A6: Always use themself for clarity, correctness, and universal understanding.

Q7: Is “themself” gender-neutral?
A7: Yes, it’s specifically used for singular, non-binary, or unknown gender subjects.

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Conclusion

The confusion between theirself and themself is understandable, given English’s history and evolving grammar rules. Today, themself is the preferred choice in formal, professional, and global writing. Theirself survives mainly in informal or historical contexts. By using themself, you ensure your writing is clear, correct, and inclusive. Remember: check your sentence for singular/plural subjects, stick to themself for unknown or non-binary references, and avoid theirself in professional communication. This small adjustment improves readability and prevents grammatical errors while keeping your writing modern and gender-neutral.