Hisself Or Himself: The Surprising Grammar Rule That Finally Makes Sense
The confusion between "hisself" and "himself" persists in casual speech, yet follows a predictable logical pattern rather than random error. This article examines the grammatical principles, historical context, and real-world usage that distinguish the two forms, revealing when reflexive pronouns correctly refer back to a subject. Understanding these rules transforms what seems like folk grammar into a coherent system.
Many speakers instinctively avoid "hisself," dismissing it as incorrect in all contexts. Others embrace it as a folksy or dialectical alternative, unaware of the specific scenarios where it actually follows the same logic as "himself." The distinction hinges on whether the subject and object refer to the same person and whether that person is performing the action upon themself.
Reflexive pronouns like "himself" or "herself" are used when the object of a verb or preposition is the same as the subject of the sentence. In standard English, these pronouns are essential for clarity when an action recoils back to the actor. "Hisself" operates under the same principle in non-standard dialects, following identical syntactic rules despite its stigmatized status.
The grammatical logic is straightforward: if you can replace the pronoun with "he" or "she" and the sentence still makes sense, use "himself" or "herself." If replacing it with "him" or "her" works, then the reflexive form is incorrect. Consider the sentence, "He prepared himself for the interview." Changing "himself" to "he" yields, "He prepared he for the interview," which is clearly wrong, confirming the reflexive is necessary. Conversely, "He prepared him for the interview" suggests someone else is being prepared, altering the meaning entirely.
Hissing oneself into correct usage requires understanding pronoun case. Subject pronouns (I, you, he, she, it, we, they) perform the action of the verb. Object pronouns (me, you, him, her, it, us, them) receive the action or follow prepositions. Reflexive pronouns (myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves) bounce back to the subject. "Hisself" is a non-standard reflexive form, but it functions as a reflexive pronoun, not a subject or object pronoun. Therefore, it should not be used where "he" or "him" is grammatically required.
Speakers who use "hisself" are often applying a consistent rule to all reflexive situations. They recognize the pattern "by/for/with + [reflexive]" and extend it to themselves, so to speak, rather than learning an exception for the "h-" pronoun. This systematic approach, while labeled incorrect by prescriptive grammarians, demonstrates an internal logic that English learners might find more predictable than the exceptions they are forced to memorize.
Historical usage provides context for the persistence of "hisself." Older forms like "him self" and "them selves" were once written as two words before merging into "himself" and "themselves." The similar formation of "hisself" follows the same morphological pattern observed in other reflexive pronouns. Linguists note that such folk formations arise naturally when speakers extend observable patterns to new instances, even if the result deviates from standardized norms.
Quoted grammar guides often condemn "hisself" without exploring the underlying pattern. A style manual might state plainly that "hisself is nonstandard and himself should be used instead." This directive is accurate for formal writing and standard speech, but it does not explain why the error occurs. The mistake typically involves using "hisself" where "himself" is required in a subject or object position, such as in the sentence, "John hurt hissself," where "hurt" requires the object pronoun "him," making "himself" the correct reflexive form.
Correct usage depends on the grammatical role of the pronoun within the sentence. Reflexive pronouns are mandatory when the subject and object are identical. They are optional but sometimes used for emphasis when the meaning is already clear. They are incorrect when they refer to a different person or thing. Applying this framework to the "hisself" issue reveals that the problem is rarely the creation of the reflexive form itself, but its misplacement in the sentence structure.
* **Subject Position:** "Hisself" is never correct here. "Hisself went to the store" is wrong; "He went to the store" or "Himself went to the store" are equally wrong, though for different reasons.
* **Object Position (Direct/Indirect Object):** "Hisself" is incorrect where a standard reflexive is required. "The coach told hisself the truth" is wrong; "The coach told himself the truth" is correct.
* **Object of a Preposition:** This is a common error zone. "The manager gave the bonus to hisself" is nonstandard; "The manager gave the bonus to himself" is standard. However, in dialects where "hisself" is accepted, this usage would follow the same logic as "himself."
* **Emphasis:** "He did the work hisself" is a common nonstandard emphatic form. The standard equivalent is "He did the work himself."
Understanding the rule allows for accurate correction and clearer communication. To determine the correct form, isolate the pronoun and test it by substituting the subject or object. If the sentence uses "he," the reflexive is "himself." If the sentence uses "him," the reflexive is "himself" as well, because the reflexive form for the third-person singular masculine is invariant in this case. The rare appearance of "hisself" is a hypercorrection attempt by speakers who overapply the pattern they hear in phrases like "by themselves" and mistakenly substitute it for "himself."
The debate surrounding "hisself or himself" is ultimately a debate about the boundaries of standard language. Prescriptivists argue for strict adherence to established norms to ensure mutual comprehension across regions and social groups. Descriptivists observe that "hisself" serves a communicative function for its speakers and reflects a systematic, if nonstandard, application of grammatical rules. Both perspectives have validity, but for professional and formal contexts, the standard form is indispensable.
In journalism, law, and academic writing, clarity and adherence to shared conventions are paramount. Using "hisself" in these arenas can distract readers and undermine the author's authority, regardless of the speaker's regional background. The writer’s task is to transcribe speech accurately when quoting, but to conform to standard grammar when explaining or paraphrasing. The choice between the forms is not merely stylistic; it is a signal of the writer’s intended audience and context.
Linguistic evolution continues, and what is considered nonstandard today may shift over generations. However, the current rule is clear: "himself" is the reflexive pronoun for the third-person singular masculine subject in standard English. "Hisself" exists as a marked variant, instantly identifying the speaker’s dialect or register. Recognizing this distinction empowers speakers to navigate different conversational settings with precision, choosing the form that best achieves their communicative goals, whether that means using the standard form or accurately representing a specific regional variety.
