themself
Singular reflexive pronoun
Themself is a reflexive pronoun used with singular *they*: Each student should ask themself whether they're prepared.
It parallels the logic of yourself, himself, and herself when the antecedent is one person of unspecified or nonbinary gender.
Some style guides prefer *themselves* even for singular reference, but themself is increasingly common and matches how other reflexives work.
Outside male-female categories
- genderqueerOutside the two-category system
- transgenderGender differs from assignment
- pronounsNoun substitutes
- gender-neutralWithout sex distinction
fluidity · expression · affirmation · authenticity · selfhood · individuality · inclusivity · recognition
Freedom from external control
- agencyPower to act
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
- freedomAbsence of constraint
- choiceAct of selecting
As an individual matter
- individuallyOne at a time
- aloneWithout others present
- inwardlyWithin one's mind
- soloPerformance by one
unaccompanied · solitary · lone · single-handedly · unaided · independently · autonomous
Sustained reflective attention
- soul-searchingProbing one's innermost feelings
- mindfulnessAwareness of the present
- meditationFocused attention practice
- ruminationProlonged, repetitive thinking
nonbinary
Outside male-female categories
- genderqueerOutside the two-category system
- transgenderGender differs from assignment
- pronounsNoun substitutes
gender-neutral · fluidity · expression · affirmation · authenticity · selfhood · individuality · inclusivity · recognition · visibility
independence
Freedom from external control
- agencyPower to act
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
- freedomAbsence of constraint
personally
As an individual matter
- individuallyOne at a time
- aloneWithout others present
- inwardlyWithin one's mind
solo · unaccompanied · solitary · lone · single-handedly · unaided · independently · autonomous
contemplation
Sustained reflective attention
- soul-searchingProbing one's innermost feelings
- mindfulnessAwareness of the present
- meditationFocused attention practice
- pronounsI, me, him, he, my
- dialect wordsthee, thou, thy, thine, ye
- gender-neutralthey, their, singular they, Mx., ze
- reflexivesreflexive pronoun, reflexives
- grammar debatesirregardless, ain't, split infinitive, singular they, could of
- laws unto themselvesThose who disregard norms
- ends in themselvesPurposes valuable intrinsically