ourselves vs by ourselves

Both 'ourselves' and 'by ourselves' are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Ourselves' is a reflexive pronoun used to refer back to the subject of the sentence, while 'by ourselves' indicates that something is done without the help or presence of others.

Last updated: March 27, 2024 • 3456 views

The word 'ourselves' is a reflexive pronoun used to refer back to the subject of the sentence.

"ourselves"

Use 'ourselves' when you want to refer back to the subject of the sentence or emphasize that the action is done by the same group of people.

Examples:

We did it ourselves.
They built the house themselves.

Show examples from the web [+]

Time to just let ourselves grieve.
We should never stop working on ourselves.
We can't support ourselves or our people.
Attention, businessmen as ourselves could do without.
We only help ourselves, Nelson.
We can still feed and clothe ourselves.
Stops creating silly ideas about ourselves.
The Bible counsels us against indulging ourselves.
We must keep what has happened to ourselves.
Because the sixth need is to contribute beyond ourselves.
Condemn the errors made by ourselves.
Polluting the ocean to this point means poisoning ourselves.
Maybe something about ourselves, Leela.
Troy, we never said ourselves.
We can not kidnap the baby ourselves.
Muriel, we can look after ourselves.
So we started talking to ourselves.
We change others by changing ourselves.
Everything in our house is an externalization of ourselves.
We could always just be ourselves.

Alternatives:

myself
yourself
himself
herself
themselves

'By ourselves' is used to indicate that something is done without the help or presence of others.

"by ourselves"

Use 'by ourselves' when you want to emphasize that an action is done independently or without assistance from others.

Examples:

We completed the project by ourselves.
The children played by themselves in the park.

Show examples from the web [+]

We can't handle her by ourselves.
One day, we were. by ourselves at his gym.
Blitt and I can run this place all by ourselves.
Maybe we should just move out on our own, by ourselves.
We can't brand the cattle all by ourselves.
We'll have Cookie Prom by ourselves.
Never should've gone off by ourselves.
It wasn't easy lighting all of them by ourselves, captain.
I don't think we can do this by ourselves.
No, let's do everything by ourselves.
We cannot leave the gas in play and handle this by ourselves.
Yes, by ourselves, to Bamako.
She just thought that maybe we'd like to eat by ourselves.
We can't do it all by ourselves.
We normally get four when we go by ourselves.
- We got dressed all by ourselves too.
- We got dressed all by ourselves too.
May He could be sending us there by ourselves to hunting thing.
We can't do this by ourselves, Sam.
We'll make money, then go live by ourselves.

Alternatives:

alone
independently
without help
solo

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ourselves vs by ourselves

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