Have you ever stopped while writing and wondered whether its self or itself is correct? You’re not alone. This small spelling difference causes plenty of confusion because both forms look possible at first glance. However, in standard English, itself is the correct form when you need a reflexive pronoun. Understanding this simple distinction can make your writing clearer and more accurate.
The main difference between its self and itself comes down to grammar, meaning, and usage. Itself refers back to the subject of a sentence, as in “The cat cleaned itself.” On the other hand, its self is rarely used as two separate words and generally appears only in unusual or specialized contexts. In everyday, formal, academic, and professional writing, itself is the form you’ll normally want.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to use itself correctly, why its self is usually considered incorrect, and how context can affect the choice. You’ll also see clear examples, practical grammar rules, and simple tips that can help you avoid this common mistake. By the end, you’ll have a better understanding of the form, spelling, and proper usage of these confusing expressions.
Its Self or Itself: Quick Answer
In ordinary English, use “itself,” not “its self,” when you mean that something refers back to itself.
For example:
- Correct: The dog scratched itself.
- Correct: The computer restarted itself.
- Correct: The company defended itself.
- Usually incorrect: The computer restarted its self.
Cambridge Grammar identifies itself as the reflexive form of it. Reflexive pronouns refer back to the subject when the subject and object represent the same person or thing.
| Form | Function | Example |
| itself | Reflexive or emphatic pronoun | The machine repaired itself. |
| its | Possessive determiner | The machine lost its power. |
| it’s | Contraction of it is or it has | It’s working again. |
| its self | its + separate noun self | A rare, context-specific construction |
So if you’re writing a normal sentence and wondering whether to type its self or itself, itself is almost certainly the form you need.
What Does “Itself” Mean?
Itself has two closely related grammatical jobs.
First, it works as a reflexive pronoun. Second, it can work as an intensive or emphatic pronoun.
That distinction sounds technical, but the examples make it straightforward.
Itself as a Reflexive Pronoun
A reflexive pronoun refers back to the subject of a sentence. In other words, the subject and the object refer to the same thing.
Consider this sentence:
The cat cleaned itself.
The cat performs the action, and the cat receives the action. Because both refer to the same thing, itself fits naturally.
Here are more examples:
- The puppy hurt itself while playing.
- The machine shut itself down.
- The phone reset itself after the update.
- The company introduced itself to the new market.
- The software automatically updated itself.
- The door locked itself after closing.
Cambridge gives the same basic grammatical principle: reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and object refer to the same person or thing.
A useful way to picture the structure is:
Subject → action → same subject
The robot → repaired → itself.
The action loops back to the original subject. That’s the heart of reflexive grammar.
Itself as an Intensive Pronoun
Itself doesn’t always receive the action. Sometimes it simply adds emphasis.
Compare these sentences:
The building is historic.
The building itself is historic.
The first sentence gives a straightforward statement. The second places extra emphasis on the building, perhaps to distinguish it from the surrounding area, organization, or property.
More examples include:
- The proposal itself isn’t controversial.
- The book itself is easy to understand.
- The problem itself isn’t difficult.
- The device itself costs very little.
- The idea itself deserves more attention.
You can often remove itself and still have a grammatical sentence:
The proposal isn’t controversial.
That removal test helps identify emphatic use.
Cambridge notes that reflexive pronouns can emphasize a noun or pronoun, which is why itself can add emphasis even when it isn’t functioning as a direct object.
Why “Its Self” Usually Isn’t the Right Choice
The confusion comes from the way English forms reflexive pronouns.
English has:
- myself
- yourself
- himself
- herself
- itself
- ourselves
- yourselves
- themselves
Notice something important: these are established single-word forms.
Cambridge’s grammar reference explicitly lists it → itself among English reflexive forms.
That means you shouldn’t construct the reflexive form by taking its and adding a space before self.
Think of it like this:
it + self → itself
Not:
its + self → its self
The word its already has a different grammatical job. It expresses possession.
For example:
The dog wagged its tail.
Here, its tells you that the tail belongs to the dog.
But:
The dog cleaned itself.
Here, itself tells you that the dog performed the action on the same entity represented by the subject.
Those are two different grammatical relationships.
Its vs. Itself: What’s the Difference?
The simplest distinction is possession versus reflexive reference.
“Its” Shows Possession
Its works as a possessive determiner. It normally comes before a noun.
Examples:
- The bird spread its wings.
- The company changed its policy.
- The phone lost its signal.
- The tree dropped its leaves.
- The computer damaged its screen.
In each case, its tells you that the following noun belongs to or relates to the thing already mentioned.
Cambridge describes its as a possessive determiner used for things and animals.
“Itself” Refers Back to “It”
Now compare:
- The bird cleaned itself.
- The company defended itself.
- The phone restarted itself.
- The computer repaired itself.
Here, itself doesn’t introduce something the subject possesses. Instead, it points directly back to the subject.
A Simple Comparison
| Sentence | Word | What it does |
| The company changed its policy. | its | Shows possession |
| The company defended itself. | itself | Refers back to the company |
| The phone lost its connection. | its | Shows possession |
| The phone restarted itself. | itself | Refers back to the phone |
This distinction solves most its self or itself questions immediately.
It’s vs. Its vs. Itself
There’s another member of this grammatical family that causes even more confusion: it’s.
The apostrophe matters.
It’s Means “It Is” or “It Has”
It’s is a contraction of it is or it has.
Examples:
It’s cold today.
You can expand it:
It is cold today.
Another example:
It’s been a long day.
Here, it’s means:
It has been a long day.
Its Means Possession
The company changed its logo.
You can’t replace its with it is.
“The company changed it is logo” obviously doesn’t work.
Itself Is Reflexive
The machine repaired itself.
You can’t replace itself with it is or it has.
The Three-Word Test
When you’re unsure, try these quick checks:
| Word | Test | Example |
| it’s | Replace with it is or it has | It’s ready → It is ready |
| its | Ask whether it shows possession | The dog wagged its tail |
| itself | Ask whether it refers back to it | The dog cleaned itself |
Once you learn these three tests, many confusing sentences become much easier to edit.
Itself vs. It: Why the Difference Matters
Sometimes writers use it and itself interchangeably. That can change the meaning.
Compare:
The dog scratched itself.
The dog scratched its own body.
Now consider:
The dog scratched it.
This normally means the dog scratched something else that has already been identified as it.
For example:
The dog saw the old sofa and scratched it.
The dog and the sofa aren’t the same thing.
This is why reflexive pronouns aren’t merely decorative. They can clarify who or what receives an action.
Cambridge illustrates this same contrast by comparing a subject looking at herself with a subject looking at her, where the latter refers to another person.
Common Uses of “Itself”
The word itself appears in several useful patterns.
Itself After a Verb
This is the classic reflexive construction.
- The cat washed itself.
- The system corrected itself.
- The child accidentally locked itself in the room.
The subject and object point to the same entity.
Itself After a Preposition
You may also see itself after prepositions.
For example:
The machine can operate by itself.
The evidence speaks for itself.
The problem is difficult in itself.
These constructions have different meanings depending on context.
Itself for Emphasis
You can place itself immediately after a noun:
The restaurant itself is beautiful.
This doesn’t mean the restaurant performed an action on itself. Instead, itself emphasizes the restaurant specifically.
The distinction is subtle but useful.
What Does “By Itself” Mean?
By itself is one of the most common phrases containing itself.
It usually means alone, independently, or without help. Cambridge specifically lists the use of reflexive pronouns with by to express the meaning “alone” or “without any help.”
Examples:
- The child completed the project by itself.
- The machine runs by itself.
- The door opened by itself.
- The program installed the update by itself.
Depending on context, the phrase can suggest either lack of assistance or independent operation.
For instance:
The robot completed the task by itself.
This emphasizes that nobody helped it.
Meanwhile:
The door opened by itself.
This emphasizes that no person appears to have opened it.
“Its Self” Can Exist, But It Has a Different Function
Here’s where the explanation needs some nuance.
It would be inaccurate to claim that the sequence its self can never occur under any circumstances. English allows self to function as a noun. When that happens, its can potentially modify it.
For example, a writer discussing an abstract entity might deliberately write about its self as a concept.
However, this is not the ordinary reflexive construction.
The difference is grammatical:
The machine repaired itself.
Here, itself is a reflexive pronoun.
Compare a specialized construction in which self is being treated as a noun:
The fictional entity struggles to understand its self.
The second sentence treats self as an independent noun meaning something like identity, inner nature, or being.
That distinction matters.
If the intended meaning is simply “the entity repaired the entity,” then itself is the correct choice.
If a writer genuinely means the entity’s self or identity, a separate noun phrase can be justified by the context.
In many cases, though, a clearer phrase would be better:
- its identity
- its own nature
- its sense of self
- itself
Good writing doesn’t force readers to solve a grammatical puzzle when a clearer option is available.
Its Self or Itself: Correct and Incorrect Examples
The easiest way to see the difference is through real sentence patterns.
| Sentence | Status | Explanation |
| The cat cleaned itself. | Correct | The cat is both subject and object. |
| The computer restarted itself. | Correct | The computer refers back to itself. |
| The computer restarted its self. | Not standard | Its self isn’t the normal reflexive form. |
| The company changed its policy. | Correct | Its shows possession. |
| It’s ready to launch. | Correct | It’s means it is. |
| The device itself is inexpensive. | Correct | Itself emphasizes the device. |
| The device works by itself. | Correct | It operates independently. |
| The organization improved its image. | Correct | Its modifies image. |
| The organization improved itself. | Correct | The organization is the object of its own improvement. |
| The organization improved its self. | Usually inappropriate | It changes self into a separate noun. |
The practical lesson is clear: don’t add a space to itself just because the word contains “it” and “self.”
Common Mistakes With Its Self and Itself
Mistake: Treating “Its Self” as a Reflexive Pronoun
Incorrect in ordinary usage:
The robot repaired its self.
Standard version:
The robot repaired itself.
The problem isn’t that the reader can’t understand the sentence. The problem is that itself is the established reflexive form.
Mistake: Writing “It’s Self”
This creates a different error.
The robot repaired it’s self.
The apostrophe makes it’s mean it is or it has. Cambridge confirms that it’s is the contracted form of those two expressions.
So it’s self isn’t the normal way to write itself.
Mistake: Using “Itself” When You Mean Possession
Consider:
The company changed itself policy.
That’s incorrect because the company doesn’t “change itself policy.”
The intended meaning is probably:
The company changed its policy.
Here, its modifies the noun policy.
Mistake: Using “Its” Instead of “Itself”
Compare:
The software updated its.
That sentence is incomplete in standard usage because its normally works as a possessive determiner and needs a noun after it.
Instead:
The software updated itself.
Now the sentence has a complete reflexive object.
Itself in Formal and Professional Writing
Itself isn’t informal. You can use it comfortably in academic, business, technical, and professional writing.
For example:
The study itself provides useful evidence.
The software automatically updates itself.
The policy itself isn’t difficult to understand.
The organization must position itself for future growth.
These sentences sound natural because itself performs a standard grammatical function.
The real danger isn’t using itself in formal writing. It’s overcomplicating a sentence because you think a more unusual form sounds sophisticated.
Good professional writing favors precision.
If itself communicates the intended relationship clearly, there’s no reason to replace it with a rarer construction.
Case Study: Editing “Its Self” in Different Contexts
Imagine an editor receives three sentences.
Case Study One: Technology
Original:
The software can configure its self automatically.
Edited:
The software can configure itself automatically.
Why?
The software performs the action and refers back to itself. That is a textbook reflexive relationship.
Case Study Two: Business
Original:
The company needs to reinvent its self.
Better:
The company needs to reinvent itself.
Again, the company is both the subject and the object.
However, if the writer means the company’s identity, a clearer version might be:
The company needs to rethink its identity.
That’s often stronger because it removes ambiguity.
Case Study Three: Philosophy
Original:
The fictional character struggles to understand its self.
Here, context matters.
If self means the character’s identity or inner being, the writer may intentionally use self as a noun.
But if the sentence simply means that the character needs to understand itself, then:
The fictional character struggles to understand itself.
is cleaner.
This illustrates an important writing principle: grammar and meaning work together. You shouldn’t choose between forms based only on how they look.
How to Know Whether to Use “Itself”
When you’re stuck between its self or itself, run through these questions.
Ask: Does the Action Return to the Subject?
If yes, use itself.
The bird injured itself.
The bird caused the action, and the bird received it.
Ask: Am I Showing Possession?
If yes, use its.
The bird damaged its wing.
The wing belongs to the bird.
Ask: Does “Itself” Add Emphasis?
If yes, itself may work as an intensive pronoun.
The bird itself wasn’t injured.
The word emphasizes the bird, rather than another part of the situation.
Ask: Does “It’s” Mean “It Is” or “It Has”?
If yes, use it’s.
It’s already finished.
This expands to:
It is already finished.
A Simple Memory Trick for Its Self vs. Itself
Here’s an easy three-part rule:
Same thing? → itself
Ownership? → its
It is / it has? → it’s
For example:
The phone repaired itself.
Same thing.
The phone lost its battery charge.
Ownership or association.
It’s working again.
It is working again.
If you remember those three relationships, most common errors disappear.
Itself vs. Its Self: A Quick Comparison
| Feature | Itself | Its self |
| Number of words | One | Two |
| Standard reflexive pronoun | Yes | No |
| Refers back to it | Yes | Not as a standard reflexive |
| Can emphasize a noun | Yes | Not in the same grammatical way |
| Self functions independently as a noun | No | Yes, in specialized contexts |
| Common in everyday English | Very common | Rare |
| Best choice for normal reflexive meaning | Yes | No |
The table captures the central point: “its self” isn’t simply a spaced-out version of “itself.”
Why English Uses “Itself” Instead of “Its Self”
The broader reflexive system makes the pattern easier to understand.
English has a family of reflexive forms:
| Subject | Reflexive form |
| I | myself |
| you | yourself |
| he | himself |
| she | herself |
| it | itself |
| we | ourselves |
| you | yourselves |
| they | themselves |
Cambridge lists these forms as reflexive pronouns ending in -self or -selves.
Notice the pattern. We don’t normally write:
- my self when we mean myself
- your self when we mean yourself
- him self when we mean himself
- her self when we mean herself
- it self when we mean itself
The established forms function as words in their own right.
That doesn’t mean self can never be a separate noun. It can. But when you’re using the standard reflexive pronoun, the form is itself.
Read More: Wish You vs Wishing You: The Complete Guide to Meaning, Grammar, Tone, and Real-World Usage
Interesting Facts About “Itself”
A few grammatical facts make the word even easier to understand.
- Itself is a pronoun.
- It is the standard reflexive form of it.
- It can refer to a thing, animal, situation, or idea, depending on context.
- It can function as an intensive pronoun for emphasis.
- In by itself, it can mean alone or without help.
- Its and it’s are different words with different grammatical functions.
- Its self can occur when self is deliberately treated as a separate noun, but that use is much less common than itself.
Conclusion:
The difference between its self and itself may seem small, but using the right form matters in clear English. In standard writing, itself is the correct reflexive pronoun and should be used when the word refers back to the subject of a sentence. Its self is generally not the correct choice in ordinary writing, although it can occasionally appear in unusual philosophical or stylistic contexts. Once you understand this simple grammar rule, you can use itself with confidence and avoid an easy spelling and usage mistake.
FAQs:
Is “its self” correct in English?
Usually, no. Itself is the standard and correct form when you need a reflexive pronoun. Its self may appear in rare, specialized contexts where “self” is intentionally treated as a separate noun.
What is the difference between “its self” and “itself”?
Itself is a single word and works as a reflexive pronoun, referring back to a subject. Its self separates “its” and “self” and normally doesn’t work as a standard reflexive form.
Is “itself” one word or two words?
Itself is written as one word. Writing it as “its self” is generally incorrect when you mean the reflexive pronoun.
Can “its self” ever be used?
Yes, but only in unusual contexts. For example, a philosophical or highly stylistic text might deliberately use “its self” to discuss an entity’s “self” as a separate concept. This isn’t normal everyday grammar.
How can I remember whether to use “its self” or “itself”?
A simple trick is to remember that the reflexive pronoun is itself, just like himself, herself, and themselves. If you’re referring back to a subject, itself is almost certainly the form you need.
