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Himself or Hiself – Which is Correct?

When it comes to the pronouns himself and hiself, there is often confusion about which one is correct. However, the correct pronoun to use is himself.

Himself is the reflexive form of the pronoun he. It is used when the subject and the object of a sentence refer to the same person or thing. For example, “He hurt himself while playing basketball” or “She talked to herself in the mirror.”

On the other hand, hiself is not a standard English word. It is considered nonstandard and incorrect. You won’t find it in any reputable dictionaries, grammar books, or usage guides. It is likely that hiself is a result of dialectal variations or regional accents in certain parts of the English-speaking world.

Here are some examples to illustrate the correct usage of himself:

1. John cut himself while shaving.
2. Jessica blamed herself for the failure of the project.
3. The dog wagged its tail in excitement when it saw itself in the mirror.
4. Susan reminded herself to buy groceries on her way home.
5. The little boy felt proud of himself after he solved the puzzle.

In all of these examples, the subject of the sentence is also the object, and the reflexive pronoun himself is used to indicate self-reference.

To further understand the difference between himself and hiself, let’s compare them to the pronouns myself and theirselves.

Just like himself, myself is the reflexive form of the pronoun I. It is used when the subject and the object of a sentence refer to the same person or thing. For example, “I cooked dinner myself” or “We enjoyed ourselves at the party.”

On the other hand, theirselves is another nonstandard and incorrect formation. The correct reflexive pronoun to use for the third-person plural is themselves. For example, “They helped themselves to the food” and “The students congratulated themselves on their success.”

In conclusion, when choosing between himself and hiself, always opt for himself. It is the correct and standard reflexive pronoun to use. Hiself is not recognized as a legitimate word in English grammar and should be avoided. Remember to always consult reputable sources for accurate and reliable information on grammar and language usage.