Mastering the Plural of ‘Self’: Usage, Rules & Examples

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The English word self plays a crucial role in expressing identity, reflection, and emphasis. But what happens when we want to talk about more than one self? Understanding the plural form—selves—is essential for accurate and nuanced communication. Whether you’re a student, teacher, writer, editor, or an English learner, mastering this small but significant aspect of grammar will enhance your clarity, precision, and stylistic fluency.

This comprehensive article explores the plural of self in detail. We’ll cover definitions, spelling patterns, grammatical rules, a wealth of examples, common mistakes, advanced insights, and practice exercises. You’ll discover how selves is used in academic, psychological, literary, and everyday contexts. By the end, you’ll confidently navigate both simple and complex uses of self and selves.

Table of Contents

3. DEFINITION SECTION

3.1. What Does Self Mean?

Self is a noun referring to an individual as the object of their own awareness, consciousness, or reflection. It represents one’s personality, identity, or inner being.

Example:

  • She finally discovered her true self.

In grammar, self is also the root for reflexive pronouns such as myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, which refer back to the subject.

Beyond grammar, self is key in philosophy and psychology, describing concepts like self-awareness, self-identity, and the nature of consciousness.

3.2. What Is the Plural of Self?

The plural form of self is selves.

Phonetic transcription: /sɛlvz/

This plural is formed by changing the ending -f to -v and adding -es, following a common English pluralization rule for certain nouns ending with -f.

Example:

  • People have multiple selves that they present in different situations.

3.3. Grammatical Classification

Self and selves function as common, countable nouns when referring to identities or persons.

Plural noun morphology: For nouns ending in -f, the plural often changes to -ves.

Singular Plural
self selves
wolf wolves
life lives
knife knives
elf elves

Note: Reflexive pronouns are compounds made from possessive or objective pronouns + self (singular) or selves (plural).

3.4. Contexts of Usage

The plural selves appears mainly in:

  • Philosophy: Discussing identity, consciousness, or multiple facets of a person
  • Psychology: Describing fragmented or multiple identities
  • Literature: Portraying complex characters with many layers
  • Social sciences: Group or social identities – e.g., our professional selves
  • Creative writing: Exploring the complexity of human nature

4. STRUCTURAL BREAKDOWN

4.1. Spelling Pattern: -f to -ves

Many English nouns ending with -f or -fe form their plurals by changing the -f to -v and adding -es.

Singular Plural
self selves
wolf wolves
life lives
knife knives
leaf leaves
calf calves
thief thieves
shelf shelves
elf elves
wife wives

Note: Not all nouns ending with -f follow this rule (e.g., roofs, chiefs).

4.2. Morphological Construction

The plural selves is formed by:

  • The base morpheme: self
  • Changing f to v
  • Adding the plural suffix -es

This change facilitates smoother pronunciation by voicing the final consonant cluster.

4.3. Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns refer back to the sentence subject (e.g., She hurt herself), while intensive pronouns emphasize the subject (e.g., I did it myself).

Plural reflexive/intensive pronouns use selves, never selfs.

Person Singular Plural
1st myself ourselves
2nd yourself yourselves
3rd masculine himself themselves
3rd feminine herself themselves
3rd neuter itself themselves

4.4. Compound Forms and Hyphenation

Pluralizing compounds with -self depends on the pronoun:

  • Correct plural reflexives: ourselves, yourselves, themselves
  • Incorrect forms: *myselfs, yourselfs, hisselves, theirselves*

When self is part of a compound noun (e.g., self-image), the plural is usually formed on the main noun:

  • self-image → self-images
  • self-portrait → self-portraits

5. TYPES OR CATEGORIES

5.1. Singular Self

Used for:

  • Reflexive pronouns: I hurt myself.
  • Describing one’s identity: She found her true self.

5.2. Plural Selves

Used for:

  • Different aspects of one individual: We all have multiple selves.
  • Identities of multiple people: Their public selves differ from their private selves.
  • Psychological states: Therapy helps integrate fragmented selves.

5.3. Reflexive Pronoun Plurals

Plural subjects referring back to themselves:

  • We taught ourselves.
  • They prepared themselves.
  • You should help yourselves.

5.4. Compound Nouns and Pluralization

When self is part of a compound noun:

  • self-image → self-images
  • self-esteem → self-esteems (rare)
  • self-portrait → self-portraits
  • self-control → remains self-control (uncountable)

The plural is on the main noun, not selves.

6. EXAMPLES SECTION

6.1. Basic Singular vs. Plural Examples

  • She discovered her true self.
  • They discovered their true selves.
  • He is not his usual self today.
  • People present different selves in various contexts.
  • Each person has a unique self.
  • We often struggle to unite our many selves.

6.2. Reflexive Pronouns

  • I taught myself to play piano.
  • We challenged ourselves to do better.
  • She blames herself for the mistake.
  • They enjoyed themselves at the party.
  • You should treat yourself kindly.
  • You all should be proud of yourselves.

6.3. Abstract and Philosophical Usage

  • The novel explores the many selves of the protagonist.
  • Our social selves differ from our private selves.
  • He struggles to reconcile his conflicting selves.
  • We wear different masks for our different selves.
  • She is searching for her authentic self.

6.4. Psychological Context

  • Therapy can help integrate fragmented selves.
  • Children develop their sense of selves over time.
  • Identity disorders involve multiple distinct selves.
  • He expresses different selves in different situations.
  • Social media often showcases curated selves.

6.5. Literary Examples

  • “We wear different masks for our different selves.” (anonymous)
  • “Her many selves spoke in conflicting voices.” (fiction)
  • “The search for the true self is endless.” (essay)
  • “They lost themselves in the moment.” (narrative)
  • “We found new selves through travel.” (memoir)

6.6. Tables of Examples

Table 1: Singular self vs. Plural selves
Singular Plural
She admired her self. They admired their selves.
He is not his usual self. People wear many selves.
Discover your true self. Explore your different selves.
Table 2: Reflexive Pronouns
Singular Plural
I hurt myself. We hurt ourselves.
You taught yourself. You all taught yourselves.
She blamed herself. They blamed themselves.
Table 3: Abstract Uses in Psychology
Example Context
Therapy integrates fragmented selves. Mental health
Children form their selves. Development
Social selves differ from private selves. Social identity
Table 4: Compound Noun Pluralization
Singular Plural
self-image self-images
self-portrait self-portraits
self-esteem self-esteems
self-control self-control
Table 5: Incorrect vs. Correct Forms
Incorrect Correct
selfs selves
myselfs ourselves
theirselves themselves
hisselves themselves

6.7. Notes

This section included more than 50 examples across contexts to illustrate singular/plural forms, reflexives, abstract usage, and common mistakes.

7. USAGE RULES

7.1. Forming the Plural of Self

  • Change -f to -v.
  • Add -es → selves.
  • Never write *selfs*.

7.2. Reflexive Pronouns

  • Plural reflexives use selves: ourselves, yourselves, themselves.
  • Singular reflexives use self: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself.

7.3. When to Use Plural Selves

  • Talking about multiple people’s identities: They found their true selves.
  • Discussing multiple facets of one person: He has many selves.
  • In psychology, philosophy, or literature to show complexity.

7.4. When to Use Singular Self

  • Describing one person’s identity.
  • In singular reflexive pronouns.
  • When referring to a single inner identity.

7.5. Common Exceptions and Dialectal Variations

  • Nonstandard dialectal forms: *theirselves, hisself, ourselfs*
  • Use standard forms in formal and academic writing.

7.6. Special Cases

  • In compound nouns, pluralize the main noun, not self: self-portraits, self-images.
  • For uncountable nouns with self prefixes, do not pluralize: self-control, self-awareness.

8. COMMON MISTAKES

8.1. Incorrect Plural Forms

  • *selfs* ✗ (correct: selves)
  • *myselfs* ✗ (correct: ourselves)
  • *hisselves* ✗ (correct: themselves)

8.2. Mistaking Singular for Plural

  • Using ourselves with a singular subject: *I prepared ourselves.* ✗
  • Correct: I prepared myself.

8.3. Nonstandard Dialect Forms

  • *theirselves* instead of themselves
  • *ourself* instead of ourselves

8.4. Confusion with Compound Nouns

  • *selves-esteem* ✗ (correct: self-esteem)
  • *selfs-worth* ✗ (correct: self-worth)

8.5. Correct vs. Incorrect Table

Incorrect Correct
We must prepare ourselfs. We must prepare ourselves.
They only think about hisselfs. They only think about themselves.
She is her true selves. She is her true self.
Theirselves arrived early. Themselves arrived early.
I did it by myselfs. I did it by myself.

8.6. Tips for Avoidance

  • Remember: selves, never *selfs*.
  • Use plural reflexive pronouns ONLY with plural subjects.
  • Steer clear of dialectal variants in formal writing.
  • Check pluralization rules for compound nouns.

9. PRACTICE EXERCISES

9.1. Fill-in-the-Blank

  1. They looked at ________ in the mirror.
  2. Each person has many ________.
  3. I taught ________ to play guitar.
  4. We challenged ________ to improve.
  5. She blamed ________ for the mistake.
  6. You all should be proud of ________.
  7. The novel explores the protagonist’s many ________.
  8. The children enjoyed ________ at the park.
  9. He hurt ________ while cooking.
  10. Social media often reveals different ________.
  11. We express our ________ differently at work and home.
  12. They prepared ________ for the exam.
  13. He found his true ________ during his travels.
  14. Therapy integrates fragmented ________.
  15. You should care for ________.

9.2. Error Correction

  1. They expressed theirselves clearly.
  2. We must prepare ourselfs.
  3. She is her true selves.
  4. He blamed hisself for the error.
  5. I taught ourselves to swim.
  6. You should be proud of yourselfs.
  7. The children enjoyed theirselves at the zoo.
  8. I discovered my true selves.
  9. They lost hisselves in the moment.
  10. We challenged ourself to do better.

9.3. Identification: Singular or Plural

Word Singular or Plural?
ourselves
myself
selves
herself
themselves
himself
yourself
yourselves
self
theirselves

9.4. Sentence Construction Prompts

  1. Write a sentence using selves about identity.
  2. Write a sentence using ourselves reflexively.
  3. Use yourself in a sentence.
  4. Create a sentence with themselves as emphasis.
  5. Use self to describe personal growth.
  6. Write a philosophical sentence with selves.
  7. Use himself in a reflexive context.
  8. Use selves to describe multiple personalities.
  9. Write about social selves.
  10. Use myself in an intensive pronoun sentence.

9.5. Practice Answers

Fill-in-the-Blank Answers

  1. themselves
  2. selves
  3. myself
  4. ourselves
  5. herself
  6. yourselves
  7. selves
  8. themselves
  9. himself
  10. selves
  11. selves
  12. themselves
  13. self
  14. selves
  15. yourself

Error Correction Answers

  1. themselves
  2. ourselves
  3. self
  4. himself
  5. myself
  6. yourselves
  7. themselves
  8. self
  9. themselves
  10. ourselves

Identification Table Answers

Word Singular or Plural?
ourselves Plural
myself Singular
selves Plural
herself Singular
themselves Plural
himself Singular
yourself Singular
yourselves Plural
self Singular
theirselves Nonstandard (should be plural themselves)

Sample Sentences

  1. We all have different selves depending on the situation.
  2. We challenged ourselves to run faster.
  3. You should be kind to yourself.
  4. They themselves fixed the problem.
  5. She improved her self through meditation.
  6. Philosophers debate whether we have multiple selves.
  7. He blamed himself for the mistake.
  8. The patient displayed several distinct selves.
  9. Our social selves differ from our private selves.
  10. I baked the cake myself.

10. ADVANCED TOPICS

10.1. The Concept of Multiple Selves

In psychology, selves refer to distinct identities within one person, such as in dissociative identity disorder. In philosophy, multiple selves can reflect conflicting desires or social roles. Literature often explores these facets to create complex characters.

10.2. Historical Development

Self derives from Old English self or seolf. The plural selves follows historical pluralization patterns, replacing -f with -v- + -es, similar to wolves, knives.

10.3. Semantic Nuances

  • Multiple identities within one person: He struggles with conflicting selves.
  • Multiple individuals: We express our selves differently.

10.4. Dialectal and Nonstandard Variations

Nonstandard forms like theirselves, hisself, or ourselfs occur in some dialects but are considered incorrect in standard English. Prescriptive grammar discourages these, but descriptivists note their regional or social usage.

10.5. Comparative Linguistics

Many languages use reflexive pronouns but pluralize differently:

  • French: se (no plural change)
  • Spanish: se (same form)
  • German: sich (same reflexive form)
  • Dutch: zichzelf (self), zichzelfs (possessive plural rare)

English uniquely pluralizes self as selves in both noun and pronoun forms.

11. FAQ SECTION

  1. What is the correct plural of self?
    Selves. The plural form is selves, not *selfs*.
  2. Why is the plural selves and not selfs?
    Because in English, many nouns ending with -f change to -v before adding -es (e.g., wolves, knives).
  3. How do I know when to use selves or self?
    Use selves for plurals or when referring to multiple aspects/people. Use self when referring to one person.
  4. Are theirselves or ourselfs correct English?
    No. These are nonstandard. Use themselves and ourselves.
  5. How do plural reflexive pronouns form?
    By combining plural possessive pronouns (our, your, their) with selves.
  6. Is selves used only in academic contexts?
    No. It appears in everyday, literary, and professional language when discussing identities.
  7. Can selves be used to talk about one person?
    Yes, when referring to multiple facets or identities within that person.
  8. What is the plural of myself?
    It depends on the subject. For we, use ourselves.
  9. Are there exceptions to the pluralization rule?
    Some nouns ending in -f don’t change to -ves (e.g., roofs). But self always pluralizes as selves.
  10. How do you pluralize compound nouns with self?
    Usually pluralize the main noun: self-portraits, self-images.
  11. Can selves be used in formal writing?
    Yes. In academic, professional, and literary contexts, selves is standard.
  12. What’s the difference between selves and selves’?
    Selves is plural noun. Selves’ is the plural possessive (e.g., our selves’ goals).

12. CONCLUSION

Understanding the plural of self as selves enriches your mastery of English grammar. It enables accurate use of reflexive pronouns, deepens your ability to discuss identity, and polishes your formal writing.

Remember key points:

  • Plural of self is selves, never *selfs*.
  • Plural reflexive pronouns are ourselves, yourselves, themselves.
  • Use selves to discuss multiple people or identities.
  • Avoid nonstandard dialect forms in formal contexts.
  • Pluralize compound nouns correctly.
  • Practice examples and exercises to reinforce understanding.

Whether you’re crafting an essay, interpreting literature, or conversing with nuance, this knowledge will empower your communication. Keep exploring related grammar topics to build even stronger language skills!

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