Her vs. Herself – Which is Correct?
“Her” is the correct object or possessive pronoun when referring to a female person or singular “she.” “Herself” is the reflexive or emphatic form, used when the action returns to her or for emphasis. Choose “her” for ordinary objects and possession; choose “herself” after certain verbs or prepositions in context.
Her or Herself: Which Is Correct?
Her and herself are both correct American English words, but they serve different grammatical purposes. Her is usually an object pronoun or a possessive determiner. Use it when someone does something to or for a female person, or when something belongs to her.
Herself is a reflexive pronoun and an intensive pronoun. Use it when the subject and object of a sentence refer to the same female person, or when you want to emphasize that she performed an action personally.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the self test: if the action comes back to the person doing it, choose herself. For example, “She blamed herself” means she blamed the same person who acted. If the action simply affects her, use her: “The manager called her.”
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| her | Object pronoun or possessive determiner | Refers to a female person or something belonging to her | I gave her the message. That is her coat. |
| herself | Reflexive or intensive pronoun | Refers back to a female subject or adds emphasis | She taught herself to play. |
How to Use Her
Her has two primary grammatical functions. First, it works as an object pronoun after a verb or preposition: “The teacher praised her” and “I spoke with her.” Second, it works as a possessive determiner before a noun: “That is her desk.” In this possessive use, her tells us who owns or is associated with something.
Her is common in both formal and casual English. It should not be replaced with herself simply because the sentence refers to a female person. The correct choice depends on the role the pronoun plays in the sentence.
Example 1: The doctor called her after the examination.
Example 2: We placed her bag beside the chair.
Example 3: The award was presented to her at the ceremony.
Etymology of the Word Her
Her comes from Old English forms including hire and hīre, which served as the dative and genitive forms of the feminine pronoun related to heo, meaning “she.” Over time, Middle English developments produced the modern forms her and hers.
How to Use Herself
Herself is formed from her plus self. It is used reflexively when the person represented by the pronoun is also the object of the verb or preposition. For example, in “She introduced herself,” she and herself refer to the same person.
Herself can also be used for emphasis. In “She herself approved the design,” the word emphasizes that she personally approved it. In this use, removing herself leaves a grammatically complete sentence: “She approved the design.”
In standard English, herself normally follows a female subject when it is reflexive. Avoid using it as a replacement for ordinary object pronouns in sentences such as “The supervisor spoke to herself” unless the supervisor spoke to her own self. If the meaning is that the supervisor spoke to another woman, write “The supervisor spoke to her.”
Example 1: She reminded herself to submit the form.
Example 2: Maria prepared the entire presentation herself.
Example 3: The author herself answered questions from the audience.
Etymology of the Word Herself
Herself developed by combining the possessive or object form her with self, a word related to Old English self, meaning one’s own person. Similar compounds include himself, themselves, and ourselves.
Related Concepts
Understanding pronoun case and reflexive use makes the difference between her and herself easier to recognize.
- Object pronouns: Object pronouns receive the action of a verb or follow a preposition. Examples include me, him, her, us, and them.
- Possessive determiners: A possessive determiner appears before a noun to show ownership or association. In “her phone,” her identifies whose phone it is.
- Reflexive pronouns: Reflexive pronouns refer back to the subject of a clause. Examples include myself, yourself, himself, herself, and themselves.
- Intensive pronouns: An intensive pronoun emphasizes a noun or pronoun without serving as an essential object. In “She herself made the decision,” herself adds emphasis.
Examples from Media and Literature
Both words appear frequently in books, films, journalism, and everyday dialogue. The following examples demonstrate their standard grammatical functions:
- Literary narration: A novel may describe a character as “her closest friend,” using her as a possessive determiner before a noun.
- Character dialogue: A character might say, “She taught herself,” using herself because the learner and the teacher are the same person.
- News reporting: A report may state that an official “spoke with her advisers,” where her expresses possession.
- Film dialogue: A line such as “She did it herself” uses herself to emphasize that the character acted without help.
- Biographical writing: A profile may explain that a public figure “described herself as an independent researcher,” using herself after the verb because it refers back to the subject.
Her Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| that woman | A noun phrase that can replace her as an object in some contexts |
| the woman | A more specific noun phrase referring to a female person |
| belonging to her | A phrase that expresses the possessive meaning of her |
| to that person | A gender-neutral phrase that can sometimes replace object-pronoun her |
Herself Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| on her own | Without help from another person |
| personally | Used to emphasize that she directly performed an action |
| alone | Without assistance or companionship, depending on context |
| her own person | An expression emphasizing personal identity or independence |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Should I write “I gave the book to her” or “I gave the book to herself”?
Write “I gave the book to her.” The pronoun is the object of the preposition to, and there is no preceding female subject requiring a reflexive pronoun.
Question 2: Is “She did it herself” correct?
Yes. Here, herself is an intensive pronoun emphasizing that she completed the action personally or without assistance.
Question 3: Is “her” ever possessive?
Yes. In “her car,” her is a possessive determiner. However, the standalone possessive pronoun is hers, as in “The car is hers.”
Question 4: Why is “herself” incorrect in some sentences?
Herself must normally refer back to a female subject in the same clause when it is used reflexively. It cannot generally replace the ordinary object pronoun her.
Conclusion
Her is the ordinary object pronoun and possessive determiner, while herself is the reflexive or emphatic form. Use her in “I called her” and “her jacket,” but use herself in “She called herself” or “She completed it herself.” Pro Tip: Choosing the correct pronoun strengthens clarity and protects your professional reputation in formal writing.
