Its Self or Itself? Understanding the Correct Usage in Modern English

Its Self or Itself? Understanding the Correct Usage is essential for English learners and native speakers, as similar-looking words can confuse writing, communication, and clarity. Its is a possessive adjective showing ownership, while itself is a reflexive pronoun referring to a non-human subject. Mastering their meanings, functions, and usage improves accuracy, confidence, and your ability to choose the correct form in any sentence, from emails to academic or professional writing.

From my experience, context and construction shape how these words work. Using itself correctly clarifies the subject and its actions, while misusing its self makes grammar seem misused or misunderstood. Paying attention to rules, examples, and explanations in guides improves fluency and helps learners communicate clearly.

Choosing the right forms, pronouns, or adjectives, and understanding nuances ensures your terms, functions, and overall writing stay precise, professional, and correct.

Why “Its Self or Itself” Becomes Confusing

It helps to start with the source of the mix-up. English learners often assume that if himself, yourself, or themselves exist, then its self should be perfectly normal. And at first glance, it feels correct. Your brain tries to follow a familiar pattern.

However, English loves exceptions, and this is one of them.

Another reason for confusion is the similarity between its, it’s, itself, and the phrase its self. When those tiny words cluster together, writers sometimes misplace apostrophes, mix up contractions, or split words that shouldn’t be split.

But once you understand how reflexive pronouns work, everything falls into place.

What “Itself” Really Means (And Why It’s Standard)

“Itself” is the reflexive pronoun for the subject it, and reflexive pronouns always appear as one word, not two. When the subject and the object of the sentence refer to the same entity, you use the reflexive form.

Think of reflexive pronouns as little mirrors. They reflect the subject right back at itself.

Examples of Correct Use of “Itself”

• “The cat cleaned itself after playing in the yard.”
• “The old building practically collapsed itself after years of neglect.”
• “The software updated itself overnight.”

In each example, the action loops back to the original subject. That loop is the entire job of a reflexive pronoun.

When “Itself” Adds Emphasis

Sometimes writers use itself not for reflection but for emphasis, the same way you might stress a word while speaking.

• “The design itself wasn’t the issue—the outdated system was.”
• “The machine itself works fine; the wiring does not.”

Here, itself highlights importance and draws the reader’s eye exactly where you want it.

Where “Its Self” Comes From — And Why It’s Not Standard

Now let’s tackle the big question:

Is “its self” ever correct?

In standard, modern English grammar, no.
But in rare, highly specific contexts, yes—not as a pronoun, but as a descriptive phrase.

Why It’s Not a Reflexive Pronoun

Reflexive pronouns in English are fixed forms. They cannot be broken apart or recreated by combining two separate words. So its self can’t function as a reflexive pronoun. Only itself can.

When “Its Self” Can Appear (Correctly)

Sometimes its self appears as:

• a philosophical expression
• a religious concept
• a poetic or stylistic construction
• an archaic phrase found in older writing

In these cases, self acts as an independent noun, and its simply shows possession.

Example Where “Its Self” Makes Sense

• “The soul reveals its self through quiet reflection.”
• “The tradition continued to redefine its self over centuries.”
• “The text explored how the mind sees its self as separate from the world.”

Here, writers are talking about “the self” as an existential entity, not using a reflexive pronoun.

These uses are intentional, philosophical, and not part of everyday grammar.

Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Roots of “Its Self”

Long before grammar rules became standardized, writers often separated pronouns into two words to emphasize individuality or spiritual identity. English from the 1600s and 1700s frequently used the phrase its self because spelling wasn’t regulated, and grammar textbooks didn’t yet exist.

Where You Might See “Its Self” Historically

• Translations of sacred texts
• Works by early philosophers
• Poetry exploring identity or consciousness
• Pre-20th-century manuscripts

Why Modern English Moved Away From It

As dictionaries, grammar guides, and educational systems developed, reflexive pronouns were standardized into single words. This shift ensured clarity and consistency, especially in formal writing.

Today, linguists treat its self as:

• archaic
• stylistic
• acceptable only in philosophical or conceptual writing

But never as a replacement for itself.

Understanding Reflexive Pronouns (With Clear Examples)

Reflexive pronouns form a fixed set in English. Once you understand the pattern, “its self or itself” becomes easy to navigate.

List of Reflexive Pronouns

Pronoun	Reflexive Form
I	myself
you	yourself / yourselves
he	himself
she	herself
it	itself
we	ourselves
they	themselves

Notice how itself stands alone without variation. There is no reflexive form written as its self.

Why Reflexives Cannot Be Split

Reflexive pronouns evolved through morphological fusion—two words combined over time into one. Splitting them apart breaks their grammatical function.

Example:

• Incorrect: The door opened by its self.
• Correct: The door opened by itself.

If you break the reflexive compound, you break the grammar.

The Real Confusion: “Its” vs. “It’s”

Many mistakes begin with a simple apostrophe issue. People often confuse these two forms:

• its = possessive
• it’s = contraction (it is / it has)

A Quick Comparison Table

Form	Meaning	Example
its	shows possession	The dog chased its tail.
it’s	means “it is” or “it has”	It’s raining outside.
itself	reflexive pronoun	The system rebooted itself.
its self	possessive noun phrase used in rare contexts	The mind views its self as separate.

Why People Insert the Apostrophe by Accident

Writers sometimes think possessives require apostrophes because of nouns like “the teacher’s desk” or “the company’s values.” But pronouns follow their own rules.

• his
• her
• our
• your
• their
• its

None of them use apostrophes to show possession.

Rules for Using “Itself,” “Its,” and “It’s” Correctly

Here’s a set of easy rules that lock the correct form into your writing naturally.

Use “itself” when:

• the subject performs an action on itself
• you’re emphasizing an object or idea
• you need the standard reflexive pronoun

Use “its” when:

• something belongs to “it”
• you’re describing attributes, parts, or features
• you’re replacing “his” or “her” for objects or animals

Use “it’s” when:

• you mean “it is”
• you mean “it has”
• contraction improves flow

Use “its self” only when:

• you are intentionally referring to “the self” as a philosophical or conceptual entity
• you are quoting old writing or scripture
• the usage enhances tone or depth in analytical writing

Examples That Show the Differences Clearly

Below are simple comparisons to demonstrate how meaning shifts depending on the form you choose.

Example Set 1:

• “The device repaired itself.”
• “The device lost its connection.”
• “It’s going to restart soon.”

Example Set 2:

• “The book explained how the spirit discovers its self.”
• “The book explains how the system reboots itself.”

Example Set 3:

• “The company updated its website.”
• “It’s been a long time coming.”
• “The website refreshed itself automatically.”

Each sentence uses a different form with a different meaning. Mixing them creates ambiguity or grammatical errors.

A Quick Reference Table for Fast Clarity

Word/Phrase	Type	Standard?	Meaning/Use
itself	reflexive pronoun	✔ Yes	Reflects action back to the subject
its self	noun phrase	✔ Rare	Refers to “the self” in conceptual writing
its	possessive pronoun	✔ Yes	Shows ownership
it’s	contraction	✔ Yes	Means “it is” or “it has”

Keep this table handy anytime you edit or write.

Common Misconceptions to Avoid

These mistakes show up often in essays, emails, reports, and online writing. Avoid them and your grammar will stand out immediately.

Misconception: “Its self” is the same as “itself.”

It isn’t. One is a reflexive pronoun, and one is a conceptual phrase.

Misconception: “It’s self” is correct.

Never. Absolutely never.
It’s means it is, so “it is self” makes no grammatical sense.

Misconception: Apostrophes make pronouns possessive.

They don’t. Pronouns already have possessive forms.

Misconception: “Its self” is old but acceptable in modern grammar.

It is acceptable only in philosophical or archaic contexts, not in standard grammar.

Practical Examples for Real Writing Situations

Let’s walk through some scenarios where writers often get stuck.

Case Study 1: Technical Writing

Incorrect: The system will restart by its self.
Correct: The system will restart by itself.

Case Study 2: Business Reports

Incorrect: The company updated it’s internal policies.
Correct: The company updated its internal policies.

Case Study 3: Philosophical Essays

Correct: The concept of the soul examining its self appears throughout the text.

Case Study 4: Academic Writing

Incorrect: The theory explained how energy renews it’s self.
Correct: The theory explained how energy renews itself.

You can see how little shifts dramatically change correctness.

Conclusion

Understanding the difference between its and itself is crucial for clear and precise English writing. While its serves as a possessive adjective showing ownership, itself acts as a reflexive pronoun pointing back to a non-human subject. Paying attention to meanings, functions, context, and construction ensures your sentences are accurate, professional, and easy to communicate.

Regularly referring to rules, examples, and guides helps learners and native speakers alike to avoid misused or misunderstood usage, improving fluency and confidence.

FAQs

Q1: When should I use “its”?

Use its as a possessive adjective to show ownership, like “The cat licked its paw.”

Q2: When should I use “itself”?

Use itself as a reflexive pronoun to refer back to a non-human subject, e.g., “The cat cleaned itself.”

Q3: Can I ever write “its self”?

No, its self is generally misused or misunderstood. Always prefer its or itself based on context.

Q4: Does using these words correctly affect professional writing?

Yes, proper use of its and itself enhances clarity, accuracy, and professional tone in emails, academic papers, and other writing.

Q5: How can I improve my usage of these terms?

Follow rules, study examples, consult guides, and practice writing sentences using its, itself, and related forms to boost fluency and confidence.