Its Self or Itself: Which Is Correct in US English Today?

The choice between its self and itself can be confusing because both forms contain the familiar words its and self. However, they do not normally perform the same grammatical job.

In standard modern US English, itself is the form you need when referring back to something represented by it. It is also used to add emphasis.

The two-word form its self is not the normal replacement for itself. It can occur when self is deliberately being used as a separate noun, but that construction is uncommon and depends heavily on context.

The key is to identify the grammatical role before choosing the form.

Table of Contents

Quick Answer

Itself is the correct choice in ordinary sentences when you need the reflexive or emphatic form of it.

Correct: The machine repaired itself.
Correct: The company itself announced the change.
Usually incorrect: The machine repaired its self.

Use itself when it refers back to the subject or emphasizes the thing being discussed.

By contrast, its self contains possessive its plus the noun self. This can be possible in a specialized context, but it is not the standard reflexive form.

Why People Confuse Them

The confusion is understandable. English has several familiar reflexive forms ending in -self, including myself, yourself, himself, and herself. That pattern can make writers wonder whether the form related to it should be separated as its self.

It should not be separated when it is functioning as the reflexive pronoun.

The established form is:

it → itself

For example:

The dog hurt itself.

Here, the dog is both the source and receiver of the action.

There is also an important distinction between its and itself. Its expresses possession or association:

The dog wagged its tail.

Itself refers back to the dog:

The dog cleaned itself.

Key Differences At A Glance

Context	Best Choice	Why
Something acts on itself	itself	It refers back to the subject.
You want to emphasize a thing	itself	It adds emphasis.
Something has a feature or possession	its	Its expresses possession or association.
You deliberately treat self as a separate noun	its self may occur	This is unusual and context-dependent.
Normal everyday writing	itself	It is the standard reflexive form.

A quick comparison makes the grammatical difference clearer:

Feature	its self	itself
Number of words	Two	One
Main grammatical role	Possessive + noun	Reflexive or emphatic pronoun
Everyday use	Uncommon	Very common
Refers back to it	Not as a standard reflexive	Yes
Typical example	its former self	The device fixed itself

Meaning and Usage Difference

Itself has two important uses.

First, it can be reflexive. This happens when the subject and object refer to the same thing.

The cat scratched itself.

The cat performed the action, and the action affected the cat.

Second, itself can add emphasis.

The restaurant itself was beautiful.

Here, the restaurant is not acting on itself. Itself highlights the restaurant specifically.

The phrase its self has a different structure. Here, its can function as a possessive word and self can function as a noun referring to identity, nature, or condition.

This is most natural when self has a modifier:

The town returned to its former self.

The phrase former self refers to an earlier condition of the town.

That is different from:

The town rebuilt itself.

In the second sentence, itself is the reflexive pronoun.

So the important distinction is not simply the space. It is the grammatical function.

Tone, Context, and Formality

Itself works naturally in casual, professional, academic, technical, and creative writing. Its register does not make it inappropriate.

For example:

The application will update itself overnight.

That sentence works in technical writing.

You could also say:

The phone turned itself off again.

That sounds natural in everyday conversation.

The emphatic use is also common in more formal writing:

The proposal itself is not the problem.

The phrase its self is different. A bare construction such as:

The character discovered its self.

sounds unusual to most readers.

A noun-based phrase such as:

The character discovered its true self.

is much clearer because true self is an identifiable noun phrase.

Therefore, formal or professional writing should normally use itself when the intended meaning is reflexive or emphatic. Do not choose its self simply because it seems logically built from its and self.

Which One Should You Use?

Use itself in almost every ordinary situation involving the reflexive or emphatic meaning.

Choose itself when:

something acts on itself;
something receives an action from itself;
you want to emphasize a thing;
you use expressions such as by itself or in itself;
the word is standing in for the reflexive form of it.

Examples:

The device shut itself down.

The organization defended itself.

The building itself survived the storm.

Use its self only when self is intentionally functioning as a separate noun and the context genuinely calls for that meaning. In most ordinary writing, a phrase such as its former self, its true self, or its own identity will be clearer.

When One Choice Sounds Wrong

The easiest way to spot the problem is to look at the action.

If the subject acts on the same thing, use itself:

The machine cleaned itself.

Not:

The machine cleaned its self.

If the word emphasizes the noun, again use itself:

The machine itself is reliable.

Not:

The machine its self is reliable.

However, its can be correct when a noun follows:

The machine lost its power.

And a noun phrase involving self can also be correct:

The machine returned to its former self.

These structures should not be treated as interchangeable. The first uses a reflexive pronoun, the second uses possession, and the third treats self as a noun.

Common Mistakes (and Quick Fixes)

Mistake 1: Using “its self” as the reflexive pronoun

Incorrect: The dog washed its self.

Correct: The dog washed itself.

Mistake 2: Confusing “its” with “itself”

Incorrect: The company defended its during the dispute.

Correct: The company defended itself during the dispute.

If the company is the object of its own action, itself is needed.

Mistake 3: Using “its” where possession is intended

Incorrect: The phone lost itself battery.

Correct: The phone lost its battery.

Here, the battery belongs to or is associated with the phone, so its is appropriate.

Mistake 4: Assuming “its self” is always interchangeable with “itself”

It is not. The two-word construction can have a noun-based meaning, while itself is the established reflexive and emphatic form.

Mistake 5: Confusing “it’s” with either form

It’s means it is or it has.

It’s working again.

Neither its self nor itself means it is or it has.

Everyday Examples

Here are natural examples showing how the forms work.

Reflexive use

The cat cleaned itself after dinner.

The laptop restarted itself after the update.

The door locked itself automatically.

The company prepared itself for the busy season.

Emphatic use

The product itself is reasonably priced.

The neighborhood itself has changed considerably.

The policy itself is not difficult to understand.

Possessive use with “its”

The laptop lost its connection.

The company updated its website.

The dog lifted its head.

Separate noun “self”

The neighborhood has returned to its former self.

The character struggles with its true self.

The organization wants to recover its original self.

These examples show why its self should not simply be treated as a spaced version of itself.

Dictionary-Style Word Details

Verb

its self: Not normally used as a verb. The words may appear separately in a larger sentence, but the phrase itself is not a verb.

itself: Not a verb. It functions as a pronoun.

Noun

its self: In a rare noun-based construction, self is a noun modified by possessive its. More natural examples usually include a modifier, such as its former self or its true self.

itself: Not normally a noun. It is a pronoun used reflexively or for emphasis.

Synonyms

its self: There is no exact general synonym because the meaning depends on the noun use of self. Closest plain alternatives may include its own identity, its own nature, or its former identity, depending on context.

itself: There is no single exact replacement in every sentence. Closest plain alternatives may include the thing itself, that thing, or on its own in particular constructions.

Example Sentences

its self:

The city slowly returned to its former self.

The character began to question its true self.

itself:

The device turned itself off.

The store itself is worth visiting.

Word History

itself is an established English word with a long history. Merriam-Webster records its first known use as before the 12th century.

The important modern point is that itself is now a fixed standard pronoun. Its self should not be treated as an alternative spelling of that pronoun.

When self is genuinely being used as a separate noun, however, a possessive phrase involving its can be formed according to the meaning of the sentence.

Phrases Containing

Common phrases containing itself include:

by itself — alone or without assistance
in itself — considered on its own
in and of itself — considered independently
itself again — back to its usual condition

Common noun phrases involving its and self include:

its former self
its true self
its original self
its own self

The first group uses itself as a standard pronoun. The second treats self as a separate noun.

FAQs

Is “its self” the correct reflexive form?

No. Itself is the standard reflexive form of it. Use it when the subject and object refer to the same thing, as in “The machine repaired itself.” Its self should not be used as a spaced version of the reflexive pronoun.

Is “itself” always written as one word?

Yes, when it functions as the standard reflexive or emphatic pronoun. Write “The dog washed itself,” not “The dog washed its self.” The same established one-word pattern applies regardless of whether the sentence is casual or formal.

Can “its self” ever be grammatically possible?

Yes, but only when self is deliberately functioning as a separate noun. Such usage is uncommon, and clearer phrases often include a modifier, such as “its former self” or “its true self.” It should not replace itself.

What is the difference between “its” and “itself”?

Its shows possession or association, while itself refers back to the subject or adds emphasis. Compare “The company changed its policy” with “The company defended itself.” The grammatical roles are different.

Can “itself” be used for emphasis?

Yes. Itself can emphasize a thing, organization, situation, or idea. In “The restaurant itself was beautiful,” the word highlights the restaurant. It does not mean that the restaurant performed an action on itself.

Should I use “its self” in formal US English?

Usually, no. In normal professional, academic, and everyday writing, choose itself for the reflexive or emphatic meaning. Use a separate noun phrase involving self only when that specific meaning is genuinely intended.

Conclusion

The answer to its self or itself is straightforward for ordinary US English: itself is the standard choice when you need the reflexive or emphatic form of it.

Use itself in sentences such as:

The computer restarted itself.

The company itself announced the decision.

Use its when you mean possession: