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Anonymous Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

Whose self?

0Hi,02br
02br
00What is the difference of the two below?02br
02br
00one's self02br
02br
00one self0-
  

Top answer

0Hi,02br 02br 00'Oneself' is one word, not two. It's a reflexive pronoun. 02font 02br 02br 00I would say that the words 'one' and 'oneself' are more a feature of BrE than AmE, and that they are less used in this way today than in earlier times.

— Clive

  • 0Hi,02br 02br 00'Oneself' is one word, not two.
  • It's a reflexive pronoun.
  • 02font 02br 02br 00I would say that the words 'one' and 'oneself' are more a feature of BrE than AmE, and that they are less used in this way today than in earlier times.
  • 02br 02br 00Google finds hits for02br 02br 00'hurt 01i 00yourself02i 00' - 577,00002br 02br 00'hurt 01i 00oneself02i 00' - 95302br 02br 00Best wishes, Clive0-
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2 Answers
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0Hi,02br
02br
00'Oneself' is one word, not two. It's a reflexive pronoun. eg 01font00One should give oneself time to rest after a long trip.02font02br
02br
00It can also be emphatic, eg 01font00For a reliable job,02font00 01font00one has to d
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0Yes; I would say that "one's self" is usually only used where the writer wants to avoid any confusion with the pronoun – for instance, in religious or philosophical contexts, where it might mean "one's intrinsic being".02br
02br
00An example:02br
02br
00"To understand one's self is the classic form of consolation; to delude one's self is the romantic." –
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