What is the correct term to use: "theirself" or "themself"? Thanks!
2023-06-26
This is what goPenpal answered
The correct term to use is "themself", not "theirself". This is based on standard English grammar rules.
While it's common to hear people mistakenly use "theirself," this form is not typically accepted in written or formal English. The word "themself" is the singular reflexive form of "they/them," embraced especially when referring to a singular pronoun of unknown or non-binary gender.
For example, consider this sentence: "Someone left their umbrella; they must be missing it." Here, "they" is referring to one person. A reflexive follow-up sentence might be, "They should ask themself where they last had it."
Remember, language is ever-evolving. There's increasing acceptance of "themself" in singular contexts, reflecting the reality of its widespread use. Just remember to stick to grammatical guidelines in more formal or academic settings.
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