The reflexive and intensive pronouns end in -self (singular) or -selves (plural):
First person: myself; ourselves
Second person: yourself; yourselves
Third person: himself, herself, itself; themselves
1
These pronouns usually refer back to the subject of the sentence. They are called reflexive when they are the object of a verb or preposition or when they otherwise complete the meaning of a verb. Here are some examples:
She freed herself from a difficult situation.
They allowed themselves another break from work.
He is not himself today.
Their new business can’t possibly pay for itself.
2
All of these uses are perfectly acceptable.
3
When the -self pronouns are used for emphasis, they are called intensive or emphatic pronouns:
We ourselves would never have agreed to such a thing.
She couldn’t come herself.
Myself, I wouldn’t worry about it.
4
Sometimes the intensive pronoun does not refer to the subject of the sentence but is used as an emphatic substitute for a personal pronoun. This practice is particularly common in compound phrases, as in Mrs. Evans or yourself will have to pick them up at the airport. Although these usages have been common in the writing of reputable authors for several centuries, they may not sit well with your readers. A large majority of the Usage Panel disapproves of the use of -self pronouns when they do not refer to the subject of the sentence.
Seventy-three percent reject the sentence He was an enthusiastic fisherman like myself. Sixty-seven percent object to The letters were written entirely by myself. The panel is even less tolerant of compound usages. Eighty-eight percent find this sentence unacceptable: The boss asked John and myself to give a brief presentation.
