If you’ve ever been second-guessing yourself about whether to use its self or itself in your writing, you’re not alone – it confuses even seasoned writers. This guide on “Its Self or Itself” will help you spot the distinction between the two. “Itself” is a reflexive pronoun, the accepted and correct form that refers back to the subject of a sentence in English. Take this example: “The cat cleaned itself.” Now compare that with “its self,” a rare grammatical structure that might appear in poetic or philosophical writing like “The company is discovering its self,” which breaks the norm and causes confusion or a mistake if misused.
As someone who teaches writing, I’ve seen students, professionals, even editors stumble on this choice. Many rely on spellcheckers that don’t explain why something sounds off. But deep understanding matters.
“Itself” follows rules of syntax, semantics, and reflexivity, pairing the possessive form “its” with the right pronoun. In contrast, “its self” creates a nonstandard expression. Most contexts don’t allow such usage, and knowing this comparison can strengthen your editing, improve clarity, and refine your language constructs. Whether you’re a learner seeking support or someone who gives advice, focus on the accurate, proper, and standard form to avoid bad grammar habits and write with purpose.
The Key Difference: ‘Itself’ vs ‘Its Self’
The confusion starts with how similar they look. But the truth is, their usage is worlds apart.
‘Itself’
- A reflexive pronoun
- Refers back to a non-human subject
- Used when the subject and object are the same
- Example: The dog scratched itself.
‘Its self’
- A possessive determiner + noun
- Grammatically correct in rare cases
- Often appears in philosophical or abstract writing
- Example: The soul is searching for its self.
📌 Key Takeaway
In everyday English, itself is correct 99.9% of the time. Its self is only valid when “self” is being used as a noun, not as a pronoun.
What Is a Reflexive Pronoun?
A reflexive pronoun reflects back to the subject of the sentence.
Think of it this way: if the doer and the receiver of an action are the same, use a reflexive pronoun.
✅ Common Reflexive Pronouns
| Subject | Reflexive Pronoun |
| I | myself |
| You | yourself |
| He | himself |
| She | herself |
| It | itself |
| We | ourselves |
| They | themselves |
These pronouns are essential for clarity and grammatical correctness.
📚 “She taught herself to play the piano” 🧠 She and herself refer to the same person.
So when you use itself, you’re saying that it is doing something to or for it.
When to Use ‘Itself’ (With Real Examples)
Let’s break it down with usage categories and examples.
To Show an Action Is Done to the Subject
“The machine shut itself down.”
The subject machine is also the object receiving the action.
For Emphasis
“The house itself wasn’t damaged, only the garage.”
Here, itself is used to emphasize the noun.
With Prepositions
“The turtle pulled its head into itself.”
Correct and logical – it’s doing something to itself.
Common Patterns to Remember:
- [Subject] + [verb] + itself The cat cleaned itself.
- [Subject] + [helping verb] + itself + [modifier] The company rebranded itself globally.
Rare and Specialized Uses of ‘Its Self’
This is where things get tricky.
‘Its Self’ Is Technically Valid When:
- “Self” is a standalone noun (like identity, persona)
- You’re describing a concept that belongs to it
✅ Correct Example:
“The AI is evolving a sense of its self.”
In this sentence, self is a thing the AI possesses, not a reflexive action.
📖 Real-World Usage
- “The soul yearns for its self beyond the ego.” – Spiritual context
- “The organization is disconnected from its self-perception.” – Psychology
⚠️ But Be Warned:
Using its self in everyday writing sounds awkward and may confuse readers who are expecting the reflexive itself.
The Common Confusion: ‘Its’ vs. ‘It’s’
These two often add to the mix-up, even though they have nothing to do with reflexive pronouns.
| Word | Type | Meaning | Example |
| Its | Possessive pronoun | Belongs to it | The dog wagged its tail. |
| It’s | Contraction | It is / It has | It’s going to rain. |
❌ WRONG:
The company lost it’s vision.
✅ RIGHT:
The company lost its vision.
Pro Tip:
If you can replace the word with “it is,” then use it’s. If not, it’s its.
Quick Grammar Check: Spot the Error
Let’s test your reflexes. Can you tell which of these are correct?
| Sentence | Correct? | Why? |
| The machine rebooted itself. | ✅ | Reflexive action |
| The robot improved its self. | ⚠️ Rare | Possible if “self” = identity |
| It’s a complicated subject. | ✅ | “It is” |
| The software updated it’s interface. | ❌ | Should be its, not a contraction |
Style Guide Tips from Experts
Want to know what the pros say?
📚 AP Stylebook:
Use itself for reflexive structure. Avoid its self unless quoting abstract text.
📖 Chicago Manual of Style:
Reflexive forms are preferred. Disambiguate its self if used in philosophical contexts.
✍️ Grammarly & Hemingway App:
- Flag its self as a “possible confusion”
- Suggest replacing with itself in most cases
💬 “Grammar is the framework of clarity. Don’t dilute it with obscure constructs.” – William Zinsser, On Writing Well
Historical and Etymological Insights
Understanding the origin helps us grasp why itself is standard today.
📜 Etymology of “Itself”
- Comes from Old English hit self (meaning “it self”)
- Over time, merged into itself for fluid speech
- Refined in Middle English as reflexive pronouns evolved
✅ Why ‘Itself’ Survived
- Clear, efficient
- Fits reflexive pronoun system in English
- Mirrors forms like himself, herself
🔍 Why ‘Its Self’ Didn’t
- Felt clunky
- Introduced ambiguity
- Fell out of favor except in niche philosophy or theology
Real-World Examples from Literature and Media
Let’s see how writers, thinkers, and content creators have used both forms.
🧾 Use of ‘Itself’
- “The truth will reveal itself.” – Shakespeare
- “The system regulates itself.” – New York Times
🧠 Use of ‘Its Self’
- “The mind is a mirror, reflecting its self.” – Carl Jung
- “The universe observing its self is consciousness.” – Spirituality & Science journal
❗Notice: These are intentional uses in abstract thought. Outside of this, they’re jarring.
Summary Table: ‘Itself’ vs ‘Its Self’ vs ‘Its’ vs ‘It’s’
| Term | Type | Example | Correct? | Usage Context |
| Itself | Reflexive pronoun | The cat cleaned itself. | ✅ | Daily, standard grammar |
| Its self | Possessive + noun | The AI saw its self evolve. | ⚠️ Rare | Philosophical, abstract writing |
| Its | Possessive pronoun | Its power surged. | ✅ | General possession |
| It’s | Contraction (it is/has) | It’s been a long day. | ✅ | Informal, spoken or casual writing |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid these pitfalls:
- Using “its self” as a reflexive: It’s not.
- Overcorrecting “it’s” when you mean “its”.
- Thinking ‘itself’ and ‘its self’ are interchangeable.
- Relying solely on grammar checkers – they often miss nuance.
How to Remember the Difference Easily
Need some quick memory tricks?
- If it reflects, it’s reflexive → itself
- If “self” means identity, not pronoun → its self
- If you can replace it with “it is” → it’s
- No apostrophe in possessive pronouns → its
🧠 Mnemonic:
“Itself reflects, its self introspects.”
Case Studies: What Real Writers Get Wrong
✅ Correct:
“The algorithm trained itself using past data.” – TechCrunch
❌ Incorrect:
“The company rebranded it’s self in 2023.” – Personal Blog
Fix: “The company rebranded itself in 2023.”
✅ Correct (Rare):
“The conscious mind is aware of its self.” – Psychology Today
This is acceptable because self is a noun here.
Practice Makes Perfect: Quick Quiz
Fill in the blanks:
- The fox hid __ in the bush.
- AI will someday question __.
- __ been a long week.
- The team trusted __ instincts.
- The novel focused on its __.
Answers:
- itself
- its self
- it’s
- its
- self
Final Thoughts:
Grasping the difference between its self and itself might seem tricky at first, but it really comes down to understanding function and context. “Itself” is almost always the correct choice in everyday speech and writing. It’s a reflexive pronoun, helping sentences stay clear, concise, and grammatically accurate when a subject is doing something to itself.
On the other hand, “its self” is extremely rare and only works when “self” is used as a noun – typically in philosophical or psychological writing. In these contexts, its self refers to identity, being, or inner consciousness, not a reflexive action.
FAQs:
When should I use “itself” instead of “its self”?
Use “itself” when the subject does something to itself, like “The dog scratched itself.” It’s a reflexive pronoun and correct in nearly all everyday situations.
Is “its self” ever grammatically correct?
Yes, but only when “self” is a standalone noun. For example, “The robot discovered its self-awareness.” It’s rare and mostly used in abstract, philosophical, or psychological writing.
Can I use “its self” for emphasis instead of “itself”?
No. For emphasis, use “itself” as in “The president himself signed it.” Saying “its self” in this context is incorrect and sounds awkward.
Is “it’s self” ever acceptable in formal writing?
Almost never. “It’s” is a contraction for it is or it has. Saying “it’s self” would only be correct if you literally mean “it is self,” which is usually grammatically and logically incorrect.
What’s an easy way to remember when to use ‘itself’?
Ask yourself: is the subject acting upon itself? If yes, use “itself.” If “self” refers to a concept like identity or ego, you might consider “its self” – but that’s the rare exception, not the rule.