You won't find "hisself" in any modern dictionary as standard English, yet people still use it every day. When you're writing an email, an essay, or a professional report, choosing the right reflexive pronoun matters. Let's clear up the confusion between these two terms right away: himself is the only correct standard English form, while hisself is classified as nonstandard or dialectal.
If you use "hisself" in formal writing, readers will spot it as a grammatical error. But why does it exist, and how did it stick around for centuries? Understanding the mechanics of reflexive pronouns helps you avoid mistakes and recognize regional speech patterns without judgment.
The Grammar of Reflexive Pronouns
Standard English builds reflexive pronouns by combining possessive or objective pronouns with the suffix "self" or "selves." For the third-person singular masculine, we use himself.
The word pairs an objective pronoun (him) with the noun self. It functions in two distinct ways: Additional details on this are covered by Associated Press.
- Reflexive role: When the subject and the object of the sentence are the same person. For example, "He cut himself while chopping vegetables."
- Intensive role: When you want to add emphasis to the subject. For example, "The director himself signed the documents."
Other pronouns follow parallel patterns, such as herself, itself, and themselves. Because herself uses the possessive form (her + self), many speakers naturally try to apply that same logic to the masculine equivalent, leading to the creation of "hisself."
Why People Say Hisself
Language evolves through regular patterns, and speakers often try to make irregular systems fit a predictable mold. This process is called analogical extension.
When children or dialect speakers look at the pronoun system, they notice a neat formula:
- Her + self = herself
- My + self = myself
- Your + self = yourself
Following this exact logic, combining his + self yields hisself. It makes logical sense from a structural standpoint. In fact, historical records show that forms like "hisself" appeared in early English texts alongside "himself" for hundreds of years. Over time, standard English editors and grammarians settled on "himself" as the mandatory standard, leaving "hisself" behind in casual speech and regional dialects.
Regional Dialects and Social Stigma
While "hisself" fails standard grammar tests, it remains a living feature in several regional dialects. You'll hear it naturally across parts of the American South, the Appalachian region, and working-class communities in parts of Britain.
Linguists view these variations as valid systems of communication rather than broken English. The Linguistic Society of America notes that every dialect possesses internal logic and consistent rules.
However, social reality doesn't always align with linguistic science. Using "hisself" in a resume, a cover letter, or a corporate memo triggers an instant negative reaction from readers who equate nonstandard grammar with a lack of education. Protecting your professional reputation means keeping dialectal habits out of written work.
Common Pronoun Mistakes to Avoid
Pronoun errors stretch far beyond the "hisself" debate. Writers frequently trip over similar traps when trying to sound formal or precise.
- The hypercorrection trap: Trying too hard to avoid mistakes often leads to worse errors, such as saying "Please send the file to myself." The correct form is simply "me."
- Mismatched antecedents: Ensure your reflexive pronoun matches the exact gender and number of the subject. Writing "He fixed themselves a snack" creates immediate confusion.
- Orphaned reflexives: Never use a reflexive pronoun where a standard pronoun belongs. For instance, writing "John and himself attended the conference" is incorrect; it should be "John and he."
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, keeping pronoun case straight is one of the quickest ways to clean up muddy writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is hisself ever considered correct?
It is considered correct and natural within specific regional dialects and casual oral storytelling. In any formal, academic, or professional setting, it is marked as incorrect.
Why do we say himself instead of hisself?
Historical standardization favored the objective pronoun base (him + self) over the possessive base (his + self), locking "himself" in as the permanent standard.
How can I stop using nonstandard pronouns in my writing?
Read your drafts aloud. Your ear will often catch nonstandard phrasing like "hisself" much faster than your eyes will spot it on a screen.
Are there other pronouns formed with possessive bases?
Yes, myself and yourself use possessive forms (my and your), which is precisely why the existence of "hisself" feels logical to many English speakers.
