Hisself or Himself can be confusing when you are trying to write clear, correct English. I know how easy it is to choose the wrong form when both words sound familiar, so I’ll make the difference simple for you.
If you have ever wondered which word belongs in a sentence, you are asking the right question. You will learn the correct form, understand why it is used, and see practical examples that make the rule easy to remember.
I want you to finish this guide feeling confident every time you use this reflexive pronoun. By the end, you’ll know exactly when to use “himself” and why “hisself” is generally considered nonstandard English.
Quick Answer
Himself is the standard form for modern English. Hisself is a historically established form that survives mainly in dialectal or nonstandard usage. Merriam-Webster describes hisself as chiefly dialectal, while Collins calls it not standard. For school, professional, academic, and general formal writing, use himself.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Hisself | Himself |
| Meaning | Same basic meaning as himself | Reflexive/emphatic form of he |
| Grammar role | Pronoun | Reflexive pronoun |
| Formality | Dialectal/nonstandard | Standard |
| Common usage | Limited | Very common |
| Regional usage | Mainly dialectal | Widely used |
| Formal writing | Avoid | Preferred |
| Academic writing | Avoid | Preferred |
| Standard English | Generally not standard | Standard |
So, although hisself is a real dictionary entry, that does not make it interchangeable with himself in standard English.
Pronunciation Section
How Are These Words Pronounced?
Hisself and himself are both normally pronounced with two syllables.
- hisself: /hɪˈself/ or, in some dialectal descriptions, /hɪz-/
- himself: /hɪmˈself/
Merriam-Webster gives hisself as /hɪˈself/ with a dialectal alternative involving a voiced sound, while Cambridge gives himself as /hɪmˈself/.
The main difference is the middle consonant: hisself begins with the possessive-looking form his, while himself begins with him.
The stress falls on the second syllable in both words.
Meaning and Usage
Meaning of Hisself
Hisself is a pronoun with essentially the same basic reference as himself, but it is not the normal standard-English form.
Merriam-Webster defines hisself as a dialectal form meaning himself. Its first known use is recorded in the 12th century.
For example, you may encounter it in dialect writing:
He done it hisself.
In standard edited English, this would normally become:
He did it himself.
The first sentence can therefore represent a particular speech pattern, dialect, character voice, or historical style rather than standard written English.
Meaning of Himself
Himself is the standard third-person singular masculine reflexive pronoun.
It can refer back to a male person or male animal:
James introduced himself.
It can also emphasize a person:
James himself explained the decision.
Cambridge identifies himself as the reflexive form used when a male subject and the affected person are the same, and it also describes its emphatic use.
Oxford similarly defines himself as the reflexive form of he and notes its use for emphasis.
Main Difference Between Hisself and Himself
The biggest difference is standardness and context, rather than basic meaning.
| Point | Hisself | Himself |
| Basic reference | Same as himself | Male person/animal referred to reflexively |
| Standard English | No | Yes |
| Dialectal use | Yes | Not normally dialect-specific |
| Formal writing | Not recommended | Recommended |
| Character dialogue | Sometimes useful | Normal |
| Historical texts | May appear | Common |
| Everyday standard speech | Uncommon | Normal |
For example:
Standard:
David repaired the bicycle himself.
Dialectal/nonstandard:
David repaired the bicycle hisself.
The second sentence may intentionally represent a speaker’s dialect, but it would normally be edited to himself in standard prose.
Grammar Rule Section
How Himself Works in English
Himself has several important grammatical functions.
1. Reflexive use
The pronoun refers back to the male subject:
He blamed himself.
Here, he and himself refer to the same person.
2. Emphatic use
It can emphasize a noun or pronoun:
The manager himself approved the plan.
3. After a preposition
He kept the information to himself.
4. With “by”
By himself can mean alone or without assistance:
He completed the project by himself.
Oxford and Cambridge both recognize this use of himself.
Why Hisself Is Different
Hisself does not represent a different tense, verb form, or grammatical meaning. Instead, it is a dialectal/nonstandard variant of the standard form himself.
Therefore, this is not like “began vs begun,” where each form has a different grammatical job.
The distinction is mainly one of standard English versus dialectal or nonstandard usage.
Origin and Etymology
The history of himself goes back to Old English.
Collins traces himself to Old English him selfum, the dative singular form associated with he and self. Oxford also identifies the word as having an Old English origin.
The history of hisself is also old. Merriam-Webster records its first known use in the 12th century, while Collins gives its origin to Middle English and connects it with his and self.
This history explains an important point: hisself is not a modern typo that suddenly appeared because people misunderstood the grammar. It has historical roots, but modern standard English settled on himself.
Dictionary Comparison
Major dictionaries provide useful evidence about the status of these forms.
| Dictionary | Himself | Hisself |
| Oxford | Standard reflexive pronoun | Not presented as the standard form |
| Cambridge | Standard reflexive pronoun | Not presented as the standard form |
| Merriam-Webster | Standard pronoun | Chiefly dialectal |
| Collins | Standard pronoun | Not standard |
Oxford
Oxford defines himself as the reflexive form of he and also recognizes its emphatic uses and expressions such as by himself.
Cambridge
Cambridge identifies himself as a reflexive pronoun and gives both reflexive and emphatic uses.
Merriam-Webster
Merriam-Webster treats himself as a standard pronoun, while its separate entry for hisself labels the latter chiefly dialectal.
Collins
Collins is even more explicit about the distinction: its American English entry labels hisself not standard, while its himself entry describes the word as a reflexive pronoun and intensifier.
Are Both Words Correct?
The answer requires some nuance.
Both forms exist in dictionaries, but they do not have equal status in standard English.
Himself is the standard form.
Hisself is recognized as a dialectal or nonstandard form. Merriam-Webster’s description supports its existence as a dialectal word, whereas Collins explicitly marks it as not standard.
Therefore, it would be inaccurate to say simply that hisself is “not a word.” It is a documented word form, but it is not the appropriate choice for normal standard English.
British vs American English
This difference is not simply British English versus American English.
| Variety/context | Hisself | Himself |
| American standard English | Nonstandard/dialectal | Standard |
| British standard English | Nonstandard/dialectal | Standard |
| Academic English | Avoid | Preferred |
| Professional English | Avoid | Preferred |
| Dialect representation | Possible | Possible |
| Historical writing | May occur | Common |
Collins specifically lists hisself in its American English dictionary as “not standard.”
So don’t think of hisself as the “American version” of himself. That would be misleading.
Which Form Is More Common?
Himself is overwhelmingly the normal choice in contemporary standard English.
It appears regularly in books, journalism, websites, educational material, business communication, academic writing, and everyday conversation.
Hisself is much more restricted. You are most likely to encounter it when an author is reproducing dialect, representing informal speech, writing historical dialogue, or intentionally preserving a particular voice.
For modern SEO content and professional web writing, himself is the clear choice.
When Should You Use Each Word?
Academic Writing
Use himself.
The researcher examined the results himself.
Avoid hisself unless you are specifically analyzing dialect or quoting historical language.
Professional Writing
Use himself in emails, reports, resumes, business articles, and formal documents.
The director himself reviewed the proposal.
Casual Writing
In ordinary casual writing, himself is still the standard choice.
Hisself may appear if you are intentionally writing a character’s dialect, but it should not be used simply because it sounds conversational.
Journalism
Journalists normally use himself in standard reporting. Hisself may be retained when accurately representing a speaker’s distinctive dialect or quoting a historical source.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Treating Hisself as the Standard Form
Incorrect for standard English:
He completed the work hisself.
Correct:
He completed the work himself.
Why: Himself is the standard reflexive pronoun.
Mistake 2: Assuming Hisself Is Simply a Typo
Oversimplification:
Hisself isn’t a word.
Better explanation:
Hisself is a documented dialectal/nonstandard form of himself.
Why: Major dictionaries recognize the form, although they do not give it the same standard status.
Mistake 3: Calling Hisself an American Regional Standard
Misleading:
Hisself is the American version of himself.
Better:
Hisself is a dialectal or nonstandard form found in some varieties of English.
Why: It is not a standard regional replacement for himself.
Real-Life Examples
Reflexive Action
He accidentally blamed himself.
Not:
He accidentally blamed hisself.
Emphasis
The author himself explained the idea.
Working Alone
Daniel completed the assignment by himself.
Private Possession
He kept the information to himself.
Dialect or Character Voice
The character said he had done it hisself.
Here, hisself can be deliberately retained to represent speech style rather than standard grammar.
Synonyms
Synonyms or Near-Equivalents for Himself
Depending on context, useful alternatives include:
- on his own
- personally
- by his own efforts
- that man personally
- the man in question
However, these are contextual alternatives, not perfect grammatical replacements.
Synonyms or Near-Equivalents for Hisself
Because hisself is a dialectal form of himself, its contextual equivalents are essentially the same:
- himself
- on his own
- personally
- by himself
The safest standard-English replacement is himself.
Antonyms
Pronouns such as himself do not have a true dictionary antonym.
Functional Contrasts With Himself
Depending on the sentence, you may contrast himself with:
- someone else
- another person
- others
- another individual
For example:
He completed the work himself, not with someone else.
Functional Contrasts With Hisself
Because hisself has the same basic reference, the same contextual contrasts apply:
- someone else
- another person
- others
These are contextual opposites rather than strict antonyms.
Memory Trick
Use this simple rule:
HE → HIMSELF
Think of the standard pronoun sequence:
he → him → himself
So if the sentence starts with he and you need the reflexive form, choose himself.
He taught himself.
The form hisself may exist in dialect, but it is not the standard choice.
Similar Confusing Words
If you are studying confusing English forms, these comparisons are useful:
- himself vs hisself
- herself vs theirself
- myself vs me
- yourself vs yourselves
- themself vs themselves
- who vs whom
- fewer vs less
- affect vs effect
- farther vs further
These examples show why English can have a difference between a form that exists in real speech and a form preferred in standard edited writing.
Why Do People Search “Hisself or Himself”?
The search “hisself or himself” usually reflects a spelling or grammar doubt. Someone has encountered hisself, heard it in conversation, or seen it in a book and wants to know if it is acceptable.
Common search questions include:
- Is hisself a word?
- Is hisself correct?
- Is himself or hisself correct?
- What is the difference between hisself and himself?
- Is hisself proper English?
- Is hisself grammatically correct?
- Can I use hisself in writing?
- Is hisself a Southern word?
- Is hisself British English?
- How do you pronounce himself?
The underlying search intent is usually standard-English clarification: readers want to know which form they should use.
FAQs
Which word is correct: hisself or himself?
Himself is the standard form. Hisself is a documented dialectal/nonstandard form.
Is hisself a real word?
Yes. Major dictionaries recognize hisself, but its status is limited. Merriam-Webster calls it chiefly dialectal, and Collins calls it not standard.
Is hisself grammatically correct?
It can be grammatically meaningful within dialectal usage, but it is not the standard form for formal modern English.
Should I use himself in formal writing?
Yes. Use himself in academic, professional, educational, and most published writing.
Is hisself a misspelling?
Not necessarily. It has a documented historical and dialectal existence, so calling it merely a spelling mistake misses the linguistic distinction.
Is hisself used in British English?
It can occur in dialectal English, but it is not the standard British-English reflexive form. Himself is the standard form.
Is hisself used in American English?
It occurs in some American dialects, but Collins marks it as not standard, while Merriam-Webster describes it as chiefly dialectal.
What is the standard reflexive pronoun for he?
The standard reflexive pronoun is himself. Cambridge’s grammar lists the relationship as he → himself.
Can hisself be used in dialogue?
Yes, if the goal is to represent a particular dialect, informal speech pattern, or character voice. It should not be mistaken for standard edited English.
How is himself pronounced?
Cambridge gives the pronunciation /hɪmˈself/ in both its British and American dictionary entries.
Why does hisself exist if himself is standard?
English has historically developed competing forms of reflexive pronouns. Hisself has been documented for centuries, but himself became the established standard form.
Is himself a reflexive pronoun?
Yes. It is the reflexive form associated with he and is used when the male subject and the person affected by the action are the same.
Expert Recommendation
From a modern editing and standard-English perspective, use “himself.”
Dictionary evidence makes the distinction clear: Oxford and Cambridge present himself as the standard reflexive form, Merriam-Webster identifies hisself as chiefly dialectal, and Collins explicitly labels hisself as not standard.
The important linguistic point is that hisself should not simply be dismissed as meaningless or nonexistent. It is a historically documented dialectal form. But if your goal is clear, standard English, himself is the appropriate choice.
Final Verdict
Hisself or himself? Choose himself for standard English.
Himself is the normal reflexive and emphatic pronoun associated with he. It is appropriate for academic writing, professional communication, websites, journalism, education, and everyday standard English.
Hisself has a legitimate history and appears in dictionaries, but its modern status is restricted. Merriam-Webster calls it chiefly dialectal, while Collins calls it not standard.
So the distinction is best understood as standard form vs. dialectal/nonstandard form, rather than simply “real word vs. fake word.”
Key Takeaways
- Himself is the standard modern English form.
- Hisself is a documented dialectal/nonstandard form.
- Hisself and himself have essentially the same basic reference.
- Himself functions as a reflexive and emphatic pronoun.
- Hisself can appear in dialect writing or character dialogue.
- Merriam-Webster labels hisself chiefly dialectal.
- Collins labels hisself not standard.
- Oxford and Cambridge recognize himself as the standard reflexive form.
- For formal, academic, and professional writing, use himself.
- Do not describe hisself simply as a nonexistent word; its dialectal history is well documented.
I am Olivia Brown, a professional English editor and grammar writer who believes that great writing begins with a strong foundation in grammar. I have spent years creating educational resources that help students and professionals improve their writing, avoid common errors, and communicate more effectively. I strive to provide clear explanations and practical examples that make grammar easy to understand and apply.
Books: English Grammar Essentials and Modern Writing Success
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