If you have ever paused mid sentence wondering whether to type “itself” or “its self,” you are not alone. This is one of the most common mix ups in the English language, and it trips up students, professionals, and even experienced writers.
The good news? Once you understand the logic behind these two forms, you will never second guess yourself again. This guide breaks down the grammar rules, shows real examples, and gives you simple tests you can use every single time you write.
Understanding “Its Self or Itself” — Why People Mix Them Up
The confusion usually starts with a simple pattern. English speakers know that “my” plus “self” becomes “myself.” They know “your” plus “self” becomes “yourself.” So it feels natural to assume “its” plus “self” should follow the same pattern and become “its self.”
But that assumption is wrong. Unlike “myself” or “yourself,” the reflexive pronoun for “it” is written as one solid word: itself. There is no space, and there is no separate “self” attached to a possessive form in standard usage.
This mix up happens for a few reasons:
- Reflexive pronouns look similar across the board, so people assume they all follow the same spacing rule.
- Autocorrect and spellcheck tools do not always flag “its self” because both words exist independently in English.
- Some rare, legitimate uses of “its self” in philosophy and psychology create extra confusion about when it is actually correct.
Once you understand the difference between a reflexive pronoun and a possessive plus noun combination, the confusion disappears.
What “Itself” Actually Means (And Why It’s the Standard Form)
“Itself” is a reflexive pronoun. It refers back to the subject of a sentence when that subject performs an action on itself, or when a writer wants to add emphasis.
Every major dictionary and style guide, including Merriam Webster and the Chicago Manual of Style, recognizes “itself” as the only standard form for everyday and professional writing. It applies to objects, animals, ideas, organizations, and abstract concepts.
Example: The washing machine cleans itself.
Here, the subject (the washing machine) and the receiver of the action are the same thing, which is exactly what a reflexive pronoun signals.
What Are Reflexive Pronouns?
Reflexive pronouns show that the subject and the object of a sentence refer to the same person or thing. English has a fixed set of these pronouns, and none of them include a space.
| Subject Pronoun | Reflexive Pronoun |
|---|---|
| I | myself |
| You | yourself / yourselves |
| He | himself |
| She | herself |
| It | itself |
| We | ourselves |
| They | themselves |
Notice that “itself” fits neatly into this list. There is no version where a possessive form and “self” are written apart in standard reflexive usage.
Key Features of “Itself”
Understanding what makes “itself” function correctly helps you use it with confidence:
- It always refers to a singular, non human subject, such as an object, animal, or abstract idea.
- It is written as a single word with no space or apostrophe.
- It can function reflexively (the action returns to the subject) or emphatically (it stresses the subject).
- It never shows possession on its own.
- It works the same way in statements, questions, and negative sentences.
How “Itself” Works in Real Sentences
Everyday Usage
In daily conversation, “itself” describes something acting on its own or completing an action without outside help.
- The cat groomed itself after breakfast.
- The app updates itself automatically.
- The plant repaired itself after the storm.
Formal Usage
In academic, business, or professional writing, “itself” adds clarity and precision to sentences describing systems, processes, or organizations.
- The committee reviewed the policy itself before approving changes.
- The software corrects itself when errors are detected.
- The company prides itself on transparency.
Emphatic Usage
Sometimes “itself” is used purely for emphasis, drawing attention to the subject rather than describing a reflexive action.
- The building itself is over a century old.
- The problem itself was never the budget, but the timeline.
- The idea itself sparked a company wide debate.
In emphatic sentences, you can often remove “itself” and the sentence will still make grammatical sense, though it loses some of its emphasis.
Why “Its Self” Is Not Standard in Modern Grammar
“Its self” separates the possessive adjective “its” from the noun “self.” This creates a completely different grammatical structure than a reflexive pronoun. Instead of describing an action, it treats “self” as an independent noun that belongs to something, similar to saying “its identity” or “its nature.”
Because this structure is so rare, most readers and editors will flag it as an error, even in cases where it might technically be defensible.
Why “Its Self” Is Grammatically Wrong Today
For nearly all modern writing, “its self” should be avoided because:
- Reflexive pronouns in English are closed, fixed forms with no internal spacing.
- Style guides across journalism, academia, and business writing recognize only “itself” as correct.
- Using “its self” in place of “itself” usually reads as a spelling mistake rather than an intentional stylistic choice.
- Grammar checkers, teachers, and professional editors will almost always correct it.
Unless you are writing in a very specific philosophical or academic context, “itself” is the safe, correct choice every time.
When “Its Self” Does Appear (Rare but Valid Situations)
There are a handful of specialized contexts where “its self” is used deliberately, and in these cases, it is not a mistake.
Examples from philosophical, psychological, or religious writing
In these fields, writers sometimes treat “self” as an independent noun representing identity, consciousness, or inner nature, rather than using it as part of a reflexive pronoun.
- The organism began to understand its self as separate from its environment.
- The nation struggled to define its self after decades of conflict.
- The system developed its self through years of internal adaptation.
In these sentences, “self” functions as a standalone noun meaning identity or essence, not as part of a grammatical reflexive structure.
Historical Examples
Older texts, particularly from the 17th and 18th centuries, occasionally used “its self” as a variation before English spelling and grammar conventions were fully standardized. Modern readers rarely encounter this today outside of historical or literary analysis.
Clear Examples of Correct “Its Self” Usage
To use “its self” correctly, “self” must function as a genuine noun representing identity or essence, not as a reflexive action.
- The company tried to rediscover its self after the merger changed its culture.
- Philosophers have long debated whether the universe possesses its self.
- The AI model appeared to develop its self-model through repeated training cycles.
If you can replace “self” with a noun like “identity” or “nature” and the sentence still makes sense, “its self” may be appropriate. If the sentence describes an action happening to the subject, use “itself” instead.
Clearing Up a Related Confusion: “Its” vs. “It’s”
Before mastering “itself,” it helps to nail down the difference between “its” and “it’s,” since these two are just as commonly confused.
“Its” = Possessive Pronoun
“Its” shows ownership or belonging, similar to “his” or “her.” It never uses an apostrophe.
- The dog wagged its tail.
- The company updated its policy.
- The tree lost its leaves early this year.
“It’s” = Contraction
“It’s” is always a contraction, short for “it is” or “it has.”
- It’s raining outside.
- It’s been a long week.
- It’s important to double check your work.
Common Mistakes
| Incorrect | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The dog wagged it’s tail. | The dog wagged its tail. | Possession, no apostrophe needed |
| Its going to rain today. | It’s going to rain today. | Contraction of “it is” |
| The company lost it’s market share. | The company lost its market share. | Possession, not a contraction |
Why “Its” Has No Apostrophe in Possession
This is one of the most common questions in English grammar, and the answer is simpler than most people expect. Possessive pronouns like “his,” “hers,” “ours,” and “theirs” never use apostrophes. “Its” follows the exact same rule. The apostrophe in “it’s” exists only to signal a missing letter in a contraction, not possession.
Quick Tests to Avoid Errors
Substitution Test
Replace the word with “it is.” If the sentence still makes sense, use “it’s.” If not, use “its.”
- “It’s cold today” becomes “It is cold today.” Correct.
- “The bird flew to it’s nest” becomes “The bird flew to it is nest.” Incorrect, so it should be “its.”
Ownership Test
Ask whether the sentence shows something belonging to “it.” If yes, use “its.”
- The car lost its value.
- The team celebrated its win.
Reflexive Test
Ask whether “it” is performing an action on itself. If yes, use “itself.”
- The machine shut itself down.
- The plant healed itself.
Examples to Strengthen Your Grammar with “Itself”
- The economy corrected itself after the initial shock.
- The engine restarted itself without warning.
- The story itself was more compelling than the marketing around it.
- Nature has a way of balancing itself over time.
- The device recalibrates itself every twenty four hours.
Practice Exercises
Choose the right word: its, it’s, or itself
- The company increased ___ revenue this quarter.
- ___ been a difficult year for small businesses.
- The dog hurt ___ while playing outside.
- The software updates ___ every week.
- ___ important to proofread before submitting.
Answers
- its
- It’s
- itself
- itself
- It’s
Case Study: How One Misused Word Changed a Brand Message
A mid sized tech company once launched an email campaign announcing that their product “improved it’s performance by 40%.” The apostrophe error was small, but it appeared across thousands of inboxes and on the company website.
Customers and industry reviewers noticed. Several comments called out the mistake publicly, and a few tech blogs mentioned it while covering the launch, framing it as a sign of rushed quality control. The company issued a correction within a day, but the moment had already been captured in screenshots and shared online.
The lesson here is simple. Grammar mistakes, even tiny ones like a misplaced apostrophe, can shape how audiences perceive professionalism and attention to detail. A single word can influence trust in a brand’s credibility.
Expert Grammar Tip
When in doubt, read your sentence out loud and ask two questions. First, is something happening to the subject itself? If yes, use “itself.” Second, does the sentence describe ownership? If yes, use “its.” Save “its self” for rare, intentional writing about identity or consciousness, and only after you are confident the context calls for it.
You can checkout this article as well 🎓 A MA or An MA? The Complete Guide to Saying Your Degree Correctly
Conclusion
“Itself” is the correct choice for nearly every sentence you will ever write, whether casual, academic, or professional. “Its self” survives only in rare philosophical or historical contexts where “self” stands alone as a noun. Keep “its” for possession and “it’s” for contractions, and you will avoid the most common grammar trap in English writing.
