Understanding the distinction between "himself" and "himself" may seem trivial at first glance, but it touches on a fundamental aspect of grammatical precision that elevates professional and academic writing. While the words appear identical, the context in which they are used dictates their correctness, and confusing them can undermine the clarity of even the most sophisticated argument. This exploration delves into the nuances of reflexive pronouns, specifically focusing on when to deploy "himself" and when the repetition of the same word serves a distinct rhetorical or grammatical purpose.
The Mechanics of Reflexive Pronouns
At the heart of this discussion is the grammatical category of the reflexive pronoun. In English, "himself" is a reflexive pronoun, which means it refers back to the subject of the sentence. A reflexive pronoun is necessary when the object of a verb is the same entity as the subject, creating a closed loop of action. For example, in the sentence "He prepared himself for the interview," the pronoun "himself" correctly reflects that the man is both the agent performing the action and the recipient of that action. Using a standard pronoun like "he" in this context would break the grammatical link, resulting in the nonsensical "He prepared he for the interview." Therefore, the correct use of "himself" is non-negotiable when the antecedent requires a reflexive form to maintain structural integrity.
Subject vs. Object Function
The primary rule governing "himself" is its inability to function as a subject. Reflexive pronouns like "himself," "herself," and "themselves" are strictly objects; they cannot initiate an action. A common error occurs when writers mistakenly use "himself" as the subject of a sentence, often in an attempt to add formality or emphasis. For instance, the phrase "Himself decided to leave the meeting" is incorrect because "himself" cannot be the actor. The correct construction requires the subjective pronoun "he" to perform the action. This distinction is crucial for ensuring that sentences are not only correct but also possess the intended authority and clarity, preventing the writing from appearing amateurish or careless.
The Case of Identical Repetition
While "himself" is a specific grammatical tool, the phrase "himself himself" presents a different scenario entirely. This construction is generally considered redundant and stylistically awkward in standard English. Repetition of the exact pronoun without a clear syntactic or rhetorical purpose usually indicates a drafting error. However, there are rare instances in literature, poetry, or philosophical texts where deliberate repetition is employed to emphasize duality, internal conflict, or a sense of fractured identity. In such contexts, the repetition ceases to be a grammatical mistake and becomes a deliberate artistic device. For the vast majority of professional communication, however, the double usage should be streamlined to a single, correctly placed reflexive pronoun.
Contextual Application in Complex Sentences
Difficulty often arises not in simple sentences, but in complex constructions involving multiple nouns or clauses. Writers frequently struggle to determine whether the reflexive pronoun refers to the intended subject when other male nouns are present in the vicinity. Consider the sentence: "The manager told the intern that he should remind himself of the code of conduct." Here, "himself" correctly refers back to "he," provided the intended meaning is that the intern should practice self-discipline. However, if the manager is the subject, the sentence must be restructured to avoid ambiguity, such as "The manager told the intern, 'You should remind yourself of the code of conduct,'" or "The manager reminded himself of the code of conduct when addressing the intern." Precision in antecedent identification is the key to deploying "himself" effectively in intricate sentence structures.
Avoiding Ambiguity
More perspective on Himself or himself can make the topic easier to follow by connecting earlier points with a few simple takeaways.
