Themselves vs Theirselves: Which Form Is Correct in US English?

Choosing between themselves and theirselves can be confusing because both forms appear in English. However, they do not have the same status in standard American English.

Themselves is the standard reflexive pronoun used with they. Theirselves is a recognized dialectal variant, but it is not the preferred form in standard writing.

Understanding this distinction helps you write clearly in school assignments, professional emails, articles, and everyday messages. It also helps you recognize regional speech without incorrectly treating every nonstandard expression as meaningless.

Quick Answer

Use themselves in standard US English. Use theirselves only when you intentionally need to represent a dialectal expression or discuss the form itself.

• Correct: The students organized the event themselves.
• Nonstandard in general edited English: The students organized the event theirselves.

Both sentences communicate a similar idea, but the first follows standard written usage.

What Is Correct?

Themselves is the standard form for referring back to a plural subject expressed by they.

For example:

• They introduced themselves to the new neighbors.
• The employees prepared themselves for the presentation.
• The children cleaned their room themselves.

In each sentence, themselves refers back to the people identified by the subject.

Theirselves is found in some regional varieties of English, especially certain Southern and South Midland American dialects. It is therefore more accurate to describe it as nonstandard in general edited English, rather than claim that nobody uses it.

For schoolwork, professional documents, and general US English, choose themselves.

The Core Grammar Rule

A reflexive pronoun refers back to the subject of a clause. It can also emphasize the person or people performing an action.

Standard English uses this pattern:

Form or Pattern	Best Use	Why
They helped themselves.	Reflexive use	The subject and object refer to the same people.
They completed the work themselves.	Emphasis	Highlights that they did the work personally.
They helped theirselves.	Dialectal use	Not the standard form for edited English.

The important point is that the standard reflexive pronoun corresponding to they is themselves, not theirselves.

Although their is the possessive form associated with they, it does not replace them when forming the standard reflexive pronoun.

Compare:

• They brought their books.
• They reminded themselves about the meeting.

The first sentence expresses possession. The second uses a reflexive pronoun.

When Each Form Is Correct

Themselves is correct in standard US English when the pronoun refers back to a plural subject or emphasizes that subject.

Examples:

• The volunteers introduced themselves.
• The players congratulated themselves after the win.
• The managers themselves approved the proposal.

Theirselves occurs in some dialects, where speakers use it as a variant of themselves. It can appear in dialogue, personal speech, or writing intended to preserve a speaker’s regional voice.

For example:

“The neighbors fixed it theirselves,” the character said.

This can be appropriate when a writer deliberately represents a character’s dialect. It is not the recommended form for ordinary formal writing.

The choice depends on your purpose: use themselves for standard usage and reserve theirselves for a clear dialectal or linguistic purpose.

Themselves vs Theirselves

is a common grammar question in American English. Themselves is the standard reflexive pronoun used with “they,” while theirselves is a nonstandard dialectal form. Learn the difference, understand the grammar rule, and explore practical examples to use the correct form in everyday and formal writing.

The main difference between themselves vs theirselves is standard usage. In standard US English, themselves is the preferred form, while theirselves is generally limited to dialectal speech or deliberate representations of regional language.

When It Is Incorrect or Less Natural

In standard edited English, theirselves is considered nonstandard. Replace it with themselves in most school, workplace, and public-facing writing.

Less Preferred in Standard English	Standard Form
They taught theirselves to cook.	They taught themselves to cook.
The students introduced theirselves.	The students introduced themselves.
They did the repairs by theirselves.	They did the repairs by themselves.
The children dressed theirselves.	The children dressed themselves.

The issue is not that readers cannot understand theirselves. The issue is that it does not follow the standard form expected in general edited US English.

Do not confuse theirselves with a simple grammatical disagreement between two equally standard alternatives. For ordinary plural use, themselves is the established choice.

Meaning, Structure, or Emphasis Differences

In ordinary use, themselves and theirselves generally express the same basic idea. The difference is primarily one of standard usage and dialect, not a reliable difference in meaning.

Themselves has two common functions.

Reflexive use: The action refers back to the subject.

Example: The students challenged themselves to finish the assignment.

Emphatic use: The pronoun stresses who performed the action.

Example: The students themselves presented the final project.

In both cases, the standard form remains themselves.

The form theirselves does not add a special emphasis or change the meaning in a way that standard English requires. Its presence usually signals dialectal speech or a nonstandard form.

Real-World Examples

Here are practical examples showing the standard form in everyday American English.

At school

• The students taught themselves how to use the new software.
• They reminded themselves to submit their assignments.
• The classmates introduced themselves before the discussion began.

At work

• The employees organized themselves into small teams.
• The department managers themselves reviewed the proposal.
• The new hires prepared themselves for the training session.

At home

• The children entertained themselves during the road trip.
• They helped themselves to snacks after dinner.
• The family members reminded themselves about the appointment.

In everyday conversation

• They can take care of themselves.
• The neighbors repaired the fence themselves.
• They found themselves waiting outside the restaurant.

In each example, themselves works naturally in standard US English.

A writer might use theirselves in a character’s dialogue to reflect a particular regional voice. Outside that specific purpose, the standard examples above are the safer choices.

Common Mistakes (and Quick Fixes)

Mistake: Assuming that their automatically leads to theirselves.

Correction: Use themselves as the standard reflexive pronoun.

Mistake: Writing “They did it by theirselves.”

Correction: Write “They did it by themselves.”

Mistake: Treating dialectal usage as meaningless.

Correction: Recognize that theirselves occurs in real regional speech, even though it is nonstandard in general edited English.

Mistake: Using themselves only for emphasis.

Correction: It also serves as a reflexive object, as in “They prepared themselves.”

Mistake: Changing a character’s dialect unintentionally.

Correction: If a character deliberately uses theirselves, consider preserving it in dialogue when it supports the intended voice. Use standard forms in the surrounding narration unless a different choice is deliberate.

The simplest correction for general writing is to replace theirselves with themselves.

Grammar Rule Details

Rule

Use themselves as the standard reflexive pronoun for a plural subject expressed by they. Theirselves is a dialectal, nonstandard alternative in general edited English.

Correct Usage

Use themselves when the subject and the reflexive pronoun refer to the same people.

• They prepared themselves for the interview.
• The athletes pushed themselves to improve.
• They completed the assignment themselves.

The pronoun can also add emphasis by highlighting who performed an action.

Incorrect or Less Natural Usage

In standard US English, avoid theirselves in ordinary formal and informal writing when you mean the standard reflexive pronoun.

Less preferred: They introduced theirselves to the audience.

Standard: They introduced themselves to the audience.

The first version may occur in dialectal speech, but the second is the conventional choice for general writing.

Examples

• The guests helped themselves to dinner.
• The students reminded themselves about the deadline.
• The team members organized themselves into groups.
• The neighbors painted the house themselves.
• The children entertained themselves while waiting.

Each sentence uses themselves naturally and correctly.

Common Mistakes

A frequent mistake is forming theirselves by analogy with myself, yourself, and ourselves.

Remember this standard pattern:

• I → myself
• You → yourself
• We → ourselves
• They → themselves

This pattern gives you the correct form for ordinary plural use.

Exceptions

There is no meaningful exception requiring theirselves in standard US English. The form may be retained in dialect representation, quotations, or discussions of regional language.

Quick Test

Ask yourself: Am I referring back to people identified by they?

• If yes, use themselves in standard writing.
• If you are deliberately representing a regional dialect, theirselves may be appropriate to that voice.

Example: “They finished the project by ___.”

Standard answer: themselves.

Usage Notes

Theirselves is not simply an invented expression; dictionaries record its dialectal use. Nevertheless, recognition as a real form does not make it the standard choice for every context.

Also, do not confuse theirselves with themself. Themself is used by some speakers and writers as a singular gender-neutral reflexive pronoun, as in “Jordan completed the project themself.” That is a separate usage question from the plural themselves versus dialectal theirselves.

FAQs

Is themselves or theirselves correct?

Themselves is the standard form in US English. Theirselves is a recognized dialectal variant that is not normally recommended in standard edited writing.

Is theirselves a real word?

Yes. Dictionaries record it as a dialectal or nonstandard form. Its existence does not make it the preferred form in general writing.

Why do some people say theirselves?

Some speakers use it as a regional variant of themselves. The form follows a pattern that may seem consistent with possessive forms such as their, but it is not the standard reflexive form.

Can I use theirselves in a school assignment?

Use themselves unless your assignment specifically involves dialect, quoted speech, or linguistic analysis. It is the conventional form expected in standard academic writing.

Is by theirselves correct?

It is a dialectal expression, but by themselves is the standard form. For example, write “They completed the work by themselves.”

Does themselves mean they did something alone?

Not always. Themselves can refer reflexively to the subject or emphasize who performed an action. In “They prepared themselves,” it is reflexive; in “They prepared the meal themselves,” it emphasizes who did the work.

Conclusion

The difference between themselves and theirselves is straightforward in standard American English: choose themselves.

Although theirselves appears in some regional dialects, it is not the conventional form for general edited writing. Use themselves in school assignments, professional communication, articles, and everyday standard English.

Remember the simple rule: when a plural subject uses they and needs a reflexive pronoun, the standard form is themselves.