What is the proper use of the word 'myself'? I see it used incorrectly all the time, so what are the rules?

Answer 1

There are two proper uses of "myself" (and other forms of the same type - himself, herself, itself, ourselves, themselves), both of them in conjunction with "I".

1) the REFLEXIVE use of myself --where "I" is the subject and "myself" is the OBJECT (e.g., "I could kick myself!" or "I saved one donut for myself."). Perfectly proper (especially if you bought the donuts!)

2) the INTENSIVE (or emphatic) use of "myself". In that case:
a) "I. . . myself" (separating the two). May be used to emphasize that *I* too (like you or others) have had a particular experience. . . as in "I used to feel that way myself." (might be used to show empathy and/or encourage another...hardly bad things) OR "I did it myself." to emphasize that I was able to do it without someone else's help (that is "I" is the ONLY subject).

This is a perfectly normal way to speak. There are times, like those suggested, when emphasizing the subject is necessary to the point you're making. It's no different from the same construction with "He. . .himself" or any other pair of pronouns.

b) "I myself . . . " (no separation of the words) This can simply be a variant of the previous case. "I, myself, wrote that." OR you might say "I've heard people say he could be nasty, but I myself never heard him say an unkind word." Again, the basic point is to emphasize the subject -- in this case to emphasize that I do NOT have any personal experience of something (though I may 'know' or have heard of it).

INCORRECT:

The form "me myself", that is, using "myself" to intensify the object form "me" is generally considered incorrect.

The SUBSTITUTION of the reflexive pronoun "myself" for the object pronoun (me) when "I" as in "Remember to put in a good word for myself." instead of simply saying "for me" This is awkward, non-non-standard at the least. (I myself would call it "wrong!")

http://www.grammartips.homestead.com/self.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflexive_pronoun

Answer 2

If you know when it is being used incorrectly, you already know.
.

Answer 3

i dont know myself but i think this works

Answer 4

"Myself" should be used in sentences where you have also used "I", not "me"