Its Self or itself?” is a common grammar question. Itself is the correct reflexive pronoun, while its shows possession. For example, “The machine repaired itself” is correct.
Use its when something belongs to a non-human subject, such as “The company changed its policy.” Use itself when the subject refers back to itself, such as “The machine fixed itself.”
In standard English, its self is generally incorrect when you mean the reflexive pronoun. Remember the simple rule: its = possession, while itself = reflexive pronoun.
Its Self or Itself: Which One Is Correct?
For ordinary reflexive or emphatic use, “itself” is correct.
Itself is a reflexive pronoun related to the pronoun it. It can refer to an animal, object, organization, system, idea, or other singular entity.
Consider these examples:
- The dog hurt itself.
- The computer restarted itself.
- The machine cleaned itself.
- The company defended itself.
- The idea itself isn’t difficult.
Writing its self in these sentences would normally be incorrect because you’re trying to use a reflexive pronoun.
| Form | Function | Example |
| itself | Reflexive pronoun | The dog washed itself. |
| itself | Emphatic pronoun | The machine itself is simple. |
| its | Possessive determiner | The machine lost its power. |
| it’s | It is or it has | It’s working correctly. |
| its former self | Possessive + noun | The city returned to its former self. |
The key point is simple: use “itself” when you mean the reflexive form of “it.”
What Does “Itself” Mean?
Itself has two major functions in modern English. It can work as a reflexive pronoun or an intensive pronoun.
As a reflexive pronoun, it refers back to the subject or another relevant noun.
The puppy scratched itself.
The word itself refers to the puppy. The puppy performed the action and received the action.
As an intensive pronoun, itself adds emphasis.
The building itself is impressive.
Here, the building isn’t doing something to itself. Instead, itself emphasizes the building.
Itself as a Reflexive Pronoun
Use itself when the action returns to the thing represented by it.
Examples include:
- The bird injured itself.
- The robot repaired itself.
- The software updated itself.
- The organization blamed itself.
- The door closed itself.
A useful pattern is
Subject → action → itself
For example:
The machine repaired itself.
The machine performs the action while itself points back to the machine.
Itself for Emphasis
Sometimes itself simply highlights a noun.
- The rule itself is easy.
- The product itself works well.
- The restaurant itself was beautiful.
- The problem itself isn’t complicated.
- The policy itself doesn’t address the issue.
This use is particularly common in formal, academic, technical, and professional writing.
Why Is “Itself” Written as One Word?
English has a group of established reflexive pronouns that are normally written as single words.
These include:
- myself
- yourself
- himself
- herself
- itself
- ourselves
- yourselves
- themselves
Therefore, when you need the reflexive form of it, standard English uses itself.
You wouldn’t normally write:
- my self when you mean myself
- your self when you mean yourself
- his self when you mean himself
- its self when you mean itself
However, “self” can also function as an ordinary noun. That’s why phrases such as my true self and its former self are perfectly possible.
What Are Reflexive Pronouns?
Reflexive pronouns refer back to another noun or pronoun in a sentence. They often appear when the subject and object refer to the same person or thing.
| Personal pronoun | Reflexive pronoun |
| I | myself |
| you | yourself |
| he | himself |
| she | herself |
| it | itself |
| we | ourselves |
| you | yourselves |
| they | themselves |
Compare these sentences:
The boy washed himself.
The boy washed the dog.
In the first sentence, the action returns to the boy. In the second, the action affects the dog.
The same principle applies to itself:
The machine damaged itself.
The machine is both the source and the receiver of the action.
When Should You Use “Itself”?
The word itself works naturally in several common structures.
Reflexive Use
Use it when the thing represented by it receives its own action.
- The cat cleaned itself.
- The computer restarted itself.
- The device shut itself down.
- The organization investigated itself.
Emphatic Use
Use it to stress the noun that comes before it.
- The company itself announced the change.
- The software itself isn’t expensive.
- The rule itself is straightforward.
Common Expressions With Itself
You may also see itself in established expressions such as
- by itself
- in itself
- of itself
For example:
The machine operates by itself.
Here, “by itself” means independently or without assistance.
Another example is
The decision isn’t harmful in itself.
This means the decision isn’t harmful simply because of its own nature.
Can “Its Self” Be Correct?
Yes, but this needs careful explanation.
Its self can appear when self functions as a separate noun and its modifies that noun. This construction is uncommon when the two words appear without another modifier.
The most natural examples usually contain an adjective:
- its former self
- its true self
- its original self
- its inner self
- its previous self
Consider:
The city has returned to its former self.
Here, “former self” refers to an earlier condition or identity of the city. It isn’t a reflexive pronoun.
Compare that sentence with:
The city rebuilt itself.
In the first sentence, “self” is a noun describing an earlier state. In the second, itself is a reflexive pronoun.
Why “Its Self” Is Rare
In everyday English, a bare phrase such as its self sounds unusual because writers generally express the idea more naturally through a modifier.
For example:
The character discovered its true self.
sounds natural.
But:
The character discovered its self.
sounds incomplete or highly specialized.
That doesn’t make every possible use grammatically impossible. Context determines whether “self” genuinely functions as a noun.
Its Self or Itself: The Main Difference
The easiest way to remember the distinction is to ask what self is doing.
| Itself | Its self |
| One word | Two words |
| Reflexive or emphatic pronoun | Possessive + noun |
| Common in ordinary English | Uncommon and context-dependent |
| Refers back to it | Treats self as a noun |
| The dog washed itself. | The character found its true self. |
Think of itself as a grammatical tool. Think of self in phrases such as “its former self” as a noun describing identity or condition.
Common Mistakes With Its Self or Itself
Using “Its Self” as a Reflexive Pronoun
Incorrect:
The dog washed its self.
Correct:
The dog washed itself.
The sentence needs a reflexive pronoun, so “itself” is the correct form.
Confusing “Itself” With “Its Former Self”
These sentences have different structures:
The company changed itself.
Here, “itself” refers back to the company.
The company returned to its former self.
Here, “former self” means the company’s earlier identity or condition.
Both sentences can be grammatically correct. They simply communicate different ideas.
Confusing Its With It’s
Another common mistake involves its and it’s.
Its indicates possession or association:
The company changed its logo.
It’s a contraction of “it is” or “it has”:
It’s changing its logo.
A quick substitution test can help. Replace it’s with it is” or “it has.” If the sentence still makes sense, it’s may be correct.
Its, It’s, Itself, and Its Self Compared
These four forms can look confusing when placed together. Their grammatical roles are quite different.
| Word or phrase | Meaning | Example |
| its | Possession or association | The dog wagged its tail. |
| it’s | It is / it has | It’s getting late. |
| itself | Reflexive/emphatic pronoun | The dog cleaned itself. |
| its true self | Possessive + noun phrase | The character found its true self. |
Possessive its doesn’t use an apostrophe. The apostrophe belongs in it’s when the word represents it is or it has.
Quick Tests for Choosing Itself or Its Self
When you’re stuck, these three tests can make the answer much clearer.
The Reflexive Test
Ask:
Does the word refer back to “it”?
If yes, choose itself.
The machine repaired itself.
The Noun Test
Ask:
Is “self” being used as a noun meaning identity, character, nature, or condition?
If yes, self may appear separately.
The city returned to its former self.
The Modifier Test
Look for words that naturally describe self, such as
- former
- true
- original
- inner
- previous
- public
Examples:
- its former self
- its true self
- its original self
These phrases treat self as a noun.
Its Self or Itself Examples
Here are practical examples that show the distinction clearly:
Correct reflexive use:
- The cat washed itself.
- The program restarted itself.
- The machine turned itself off.
- The company defended itself.
- The door locked itself.
Correct noun use:
- The town returned to its former self.
- The character confronted its true self.
- The organization wanted to recover its original self.
- The fictional creature struggled with its inner self.
The first group uses itself as a pronoun. The second group uses “self” as a noun.
Practice: Its, It’s, Itself, or Its Self
Choose the correct form:
- The dog injured ______ while playing.
- The company changed ______ name.
- ______ difficult to explain.
- The town returned to ______ former self.
- The application updated ______ automatically.
- ______ years since the building opened.
- The organization defended ______ against the claim.
- The character wanted to rediscover ______ true self.
Answers
- itself
- its
- It’s
- its
- itself
- It’s
- itself
- its
The best approach isn’t memorizing isolated spellings. Instead, identify the grammatical function first.
FAQs
Q1. Is “its self” correct?
No. Its self is generally incorrect when you mean the reflexive pronoun. Use itself instead.
Q2. What is the difference between “its” and “itself”?
Its shows possession, while itself is a reflexive pronoun that refers back to a non-human subject.
Q3. Which is correct: “the machine fixed its self” or “the machine fixed itself”?
“The machine fixed itself” is correct because “itself” refers back to “the machine.”
Q4. Can “its” and “itself” be used interchangeably?
No. They have different grammatical functions. Its indicates possession, while “itself” refers back to the subject.
Q5. Is “itself” one word?
Yes. Itself is normally written as one word and is the standard reflexive form.
Conclusion
Its self or itself can be confusing, but the rule is simple. Use itself as a reflexive pronoun, and its to show possession. In standard English, its self is generally incorrect when you mean the reflexive form. Remembering this difference will help you write more clearly and avoid common grammar mistakes.
