Common mistake it self (itself)
Common Grammar Mistakes: Itself vs. It Self
When it comes to the pronoun "it," there is a common mistake that people often make: confusing "itself" with "it self." While they might sound similar, these two forms have different meanings and uses.
1. Itself
The word "itself" is a reflexive pronoun used to refer back to a noun or pronoun that comes before it, emphasizing the same subject. It is typically used when the subject of the sentence is inanimate or does not have a specific gender.
Example:
- The cat licked itself clean.
- The computer restarted itself.
2. It Self
"It self" is incorrect and does not have a grammatically correct usage. If you come across this phrase, chances are it should be corrected to "itself" to ensure proper grammar.
You might be wondering:
Did you mean itself \3 or \1 \2-\3?
In this case, the correct usage would be "itself." The sentence could be rephrased as:
Did you mean itself?
In conclusion, when referring to the pronoun "it," always use "itself" instead of "it self." Remember to proofread your writing or use a tool like Linguix grammar checker to spot and correct any grammatical errors.
it self (itself) mistake examples
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Incorrect:It self isolates it from others.Correct:Itself isolates|It self-isolates it from others.
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Incorrect:I believe that such advertisements indicate a clear statement about the issue it self and they clarify the main cause of the problem.Correct:I believe that such advertisements indicate a clear statement about the issue itself and they clarify the main cause of the problem.
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Correct:Was it self-defense?
