Using pronouns correctly can be tricky, especially when dealing with reflexive pronouns like “myself” and pronouns referring to other people. This guide breaks down the proper usage of “myself” and “someone else” in sentences, providing clear explanations and numerous examples to help you write with confidence and accuracy.
Understanding “Myself”: The Reflexive and Intensive Pronoun
“Myself” is a reflexive or intensive pronoun. Understanding the difference between these two roles is crucial for correct usage. A reflexive pronoun reflects back to the subject of the clause. An intensive pronoun emphasizes the subject but is not essential to the sentence’s meaning.
Reflexive Pronoun: When “Myself” is Necessary
As a reflexive pronoun, “myself” refers back to the speaker or writer as the subject. This means the subject and the object of the verb are the same person. You should only use “myself” when the subject of the sentence is “I.”
For example, “I bought myself a new book.” In this sentence, “I” (the subject) performed the action of buying, and the recipient of the action (the object) is also “I,” hence “myself.”
Avoid using “myself” as a substitute for “I” or “me” when it’s not reflecting back to the subject. A common mistake is saying, “John and myself went to the store.” The correct sentence is, “John and I went to the store.”
Intensive Pronoun: Adding Emphasis with “Myself”
As an intensive pronoun, “myself” adds emphasis to the subject “I.” It is not essential for the sentence to be grammatically correct. Removing the intensive pronoun doesn’t change the core meaning of the sentence.
For instance, “I myself baked the cake.” Here, “myself” emphasizes that I was the one who baked the cake. The sentence still makes sense without “myself”: “I baked the cake.”
The intensive “myself” simply adds a degree of emphasis to the role of the subject. Use it sparingly for impact.
Common Mistakes with “Myself” and How to Avoid Them
The most frequent error is using “myself” in compound subjects or objects where “I” or “me” should be used. Remember, “myself” is only appropriate when referring back to “I” as the subject.
Incorrect: “The manager spoke to Sarah and myself.”
Correct: “The manager spoke to Sarah and me.”
Incorrect: “My brother and myself are going to the concert.”
Correct: “My brother and I are going to the concert.”
To avoid these errors, mentally remove the other person or element in the compound subject or object. If the sentence still makes sense with “I” or “me,” then that’s the correct pronoun to use.
For instance, in “The manager spoke to Sarah and myself,” remove “Sarah.” The sentence becomes “The manager spoke to myself,” which is clearly incorrect. “The manager spoke to me” is correct.
Understanding “Someone Else”: Referring to Others
“Someone else” is an indefinite pronoun that refers to a person or people who are not the speaker or the person being addressed. It indicates an unspecified other individual. Using “someone else” correctly involves understanding its possessive form and how it functions in different sentence structures.
The Possessive Form: “Someone Else’s”
The possessive form of “someone else” is “someone else’s.” This form indicates ownership or belonging to an unspecified other person. The apostrophe is placed before the ‘s’ to show possession.
For example, “That’s someone else’s umbrella.” This means the umbrella belongs to a person other than the speaker or the person being spoken to.
Another example: “I think this phone is someone else’s.”
It’s important to remember the placement of the apostrophe in “someone else’s.” Incorrect placement (e.g., “someone elses'”) is a common grammatical error.
Using “Someone Else” as a Subject or Object
“Someone else” can function as the subject or object of a sentence. As a subject, it performs the action. As an object, it receives the action.
Subject: “Someone else answered the phone.” (Someone else is performing the action of answering)
Object: “The teacher blamed someone else for the prank.” (Someone else is receiving the action of being blamed)
The key is to ensure the sentence makes sense grammatically and logically with “someone else” in the respective role.
Combining “Myself” and “Someone Else” in a Sentence
It is perfectly acceptable to use “myself” and “someone else” in the same sentence, as long as each is used correctly according to its respective rules. This often occurs when comparing actions or assigning blame.
For instance, “I wouldn’t want someone else to clean my room; I prefer to do it myself.” Here, “someone else” is the object of the verb “to clean,” and “myself” is used correctly as a reflexive pronoun, referring back to the subject “I.”
Another example: “I decided to fix the problem myself, rather than relying on someone else’s help.”
Avoiding Ambiguity with “Someone Else”
While “someone else” is useful for referring to an unspecified person, it can sometimes create ambiguity. If clarity is crucial, consider using a more specific noun or pronoun if possible.
Instead of: “Someone else left the door open.”
Consider: “A student left the door open.” or “One of the visitors left the door open.”
The more specific options provide more information and reduce potential confusion. However, if the specific person is genuinely unknown or unimportant, “someone else” is perfectly acceptable.
Examples and Exercises
To solidify your understanding, let’s look at more examples and practice identifying correct and incorrect usage.
Examples of Correct Usage:
“I hurt myself while playing soccer.” (Reflexive)
“I myself witnessed the accident.” (Intensive)
“Is that someone else’s jacket?” (Possessive)
“Someone else will have to do the job.” (Subject)
“I think the dog bit someone else.” (Object)
“I can handle the project myself; I don’t need someone else’s input.” (Combined usage)
Examples of Incorrect Usage:
“My wife and myself went to the party.” (Should be “I”)
“The gift is from my parents and myself.” (Should be “me”)
“Someone elses dog was barking all night.” (Incorrect possessive)
Advanced Tips for Polished Writing
Beyond the basic rules, here are some advanced tips for using “myself” and “someone else” with nuance and sophistication.
Varying Sentence Structure
Don’t overuse “myself” or “someone else.” Vary your sentence structure to avoid repetition and create a more engaging writing style. Consider using synonyms or rephrasing sentences to express the same ideas in different ways.
Context is Key
The correct usage of pronouns always depends on context. Pay close attention to the surrounding words and phrases to ensure your pronoun usage is clear and accurate.
Proofreading and Editing
Always proofread and edit your writing carefully to catch any pronoun errors. It can be helpful to have someone else review your work as well, as they may be more likely to spot mistakes you’ve overlooked.
Mastering the nuances of “myself” and “someone else” enhances your writing precision and credibility. By understanding the rules and applying them consistently, you can communicate effectively and confidently. Remember the reflexive and intensive roles of “myself,” the possessive form of “someone else,” and the importance of context. With practice and attention to detail, you’ll avoid common errors and elevate your writing to a professional level.
When should I use “myself” instead of “me”?
“Myself” is a reflexive or intensive pronoun. Use it when the object of a verb or preposition is the same person as the subject of the sentence (reflexive). For example, “I bought myself a new car.” “Myself” is also used for emphasis (intensive) like in “I myself will handle the situation.” It should never be used in place of “me” when “me” is the object of a verb or preposition and the subject is a different person.
Avoid using “myself” simply because it sounds more formal. A common error is using “myself” in compound subjects or objects, such as “John and myself went to the store.” In these cases, use “me” when it’s the object and “I” when it’s the subject. The correct sentence should be: “John and I went to the store.”
What’s the difference between “someone else’s” and “someone elses'”?
“Someone else’s” is the correct possessive form. The possessive ‘s’ always attaches to the entire phrase “someone else,” not just to “else.” This indicates that something belongs to someone other than the speaker or another person previously mentioned. It follows the standard rule for forming the possessive of indefinite pronouns.
“Someone elses'” is grammatically incorrect. It represents a misunderstanding of how to form possessives with compound words or phrases. Remembering to treat “someone else” as a single unit when forming the possessive will prevent this error. For instance, “That’s someone else’s umbrella,” is correct, indicating the umbrella belongs to someone other than the speaker.
How do I use “myself” with compound subjects or objects correctly?
Using “myself” correctly in compound subjects or objects requires careful consideration. Remember that “myself” should only be used when the subject and object are the same person. Incorrect usage often stems from trying to be overly formal.
The easiest way to check is to remove the other person from the sentence. If the sentence still makes grammatical sense with “me” in place of “myself,” then “me” is the correct pronoun. For example, instead of saying “The manager spoke to John and myself,” say “The manager spoke to John and me” because “The manager spoke to myself” is grammatically incorrect.
Can “myself” be used as a substitute for “I” at the beginning of a sentence?
No, “myself” cannot be used as a substitute for “I” at the beginning of a sentence acting as the subject. “Myself” is a reflexive or intensive pronoun, and its purpose is to refer back to the subject of the sentence or to emphasize the subject. The pronoun “I” is used to indicate the person speaking or writing and should always be used as the subject.
Using “myself” in place of “I” at the start of a sentence is a common grammatical error. For example, saying “Myself will handle the report” is incorrect. The correct sentence should be “I will handle the report,” where “I” functions as the subject of the verb “will handle.”
What are some common mistakes people make when using “someone else’s”?
One common mistake is placing the apostrophe incorrectly, leading to constructions like “someone elses’.” As stated previously, the apostrophe should always attach to the entire phrase “someone else,” resulting in “someone else’s.” This indicates possession by someone other than the speaker or the person being discussed.
Another mistake is using “someone else” in place of “some other person” or “another person” when possession isn’t implied. For example, if you’re simply indicating that a task should be assigned to a different person, it’s better to say “Give it to someone else” rather than “Give it to someone else’s.” The latter implies you’re giving it to something belonging to someone else.
How can I remember when to use “myself” versus “me”?
A helpful trick is to remove the other nouns or pronouns in the sentence. This will help you determine if “I” or “me” would be correct. If “I” would be correct in the simplified sentence, then using “myself” is incorrect. However, if “me” would be correct, then “myself” could potentially be correct, but only if the subject of the sentence is the same person as the object.
Consider the sentence “He gave the book to Sarah and myself.” Removing “Sarah” leaves “He gave the book to myself.” Since “He gave the book to me” is the correct form, using “myself” is incorrect. The accurate sentence is “He gave the book to Sarah and me.” This simple test can prevent many common errors.
Are there any exceptions to the rules for using “myself” and “someone else’s”?
While the general rules for using “myself” and “someone else’s” are fairly consistent, some nuanced situations might arise, particularly in very formal or archaic language. However, these instances are rare in modern standard English. Adhering to the guidelines provided will ensure correct and clear communication in the vast majority of cases.
It’s important to prioritize clarity and avoid using “myself” or “someone else’s” in a way that sounds unnatural or forced. If a sentence sounds awkward, rephrasing it entirely is often the best solution. The goal should always be to convey your meaning as clearly and directly as possible.