Ownself vs. Oneself — Which is Correct Spelling?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 17, 2024
"Ownself" is the incorrect spelling of "oneself," which is a reflexive pronoun referring to the person being spoken about.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Ownself or Oneself
How to spell Oneself?
Ownself
Incorrect Spelling
Oneself
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
"Oneself" is formed by adding the reflexive suffix "-self" to the pronoun "one."
Remember that "one" is a pronoun used to refer to any person, and "oneself" stays consistent with other reflexive pronouns like "himself" or "herself."
Reflexive pronouns typically do not include possessive adjectives like "own."
The correct term uses the word "one," a commonly accepted pronoun, ensuring the form aligns with recognized English grammar rules.
Unlike "oneself," "ownself" mixes possessive ("own") with reflexive ("-self"), which is grammatically unnecessary and incorrect.
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How Do You Spell Oneself Correctly?
Incorrect: She was talking to ownself in the mirror this morning.
Correct: She was talking to oneself in the mirror this morning.
Incorrect: Do you think ownself is ready for such a big responsibility?
Correct: Do you think oneself is ready for such a big responsibility?
Incorrect: Everyone should look after ownself properly.
Correct: Everyone should look after oneself properly.
Incorrect: It's important for everyone to understand ownself better.
Correct: It's important for everyone to understand oneself better.
Incorrect: He must blame ownself for the mistake.
Correct: He must blame oneself for the mistake.
Oneself Definitions
Used as a reflexive form of "one" to indicate that the action of the sentence is directed back at the subject.
One must challenge oneself to grow.
Used to emphasize the identity and nature of the person being considered.
To know oneself is the first step to wisdom.
Employed in a sentence to refer to a general or indefinite person as the object of their own action.
One often finds oneself wondering about the future.
Used to emphasize a person's conduct towards themselves.
One has to take care of oneself properly.
Indicates that the subject and object of the verb are the same individual.
One has to believe in oneself to succeed.
A person's self: general form of himself, herself, themself or yourself.
Teaching oneself to swim can be dangerous.
A reflexive form of the indefinite pronoun one. Commonly written as two words, one's self.
One's self (or more properly oneself), is quite a modern form. In Elizabethan English we find a man's self = one's self.
Oneself Meaning in a Sentence
In times of crisis, one often discovers the true strength of oneself.
One must always challenge oneself to do better.
Knowing oneself can be more difficult than it seems.
To improve, one must consistently push oneself.
She learned to depend on oneself through her experiences.
One should always be true to oneself.
One must know how to entertain oneself during quiet times.
It's important to understand oneself before judging others.
He found that trusting oneself was key to personal happiness.
Being honest with oneself is a sign of maturity.
She realized that she needed to stand up for oneself more often.
He practiced speaking kindly to oneself each morning.
One should always have the courage to defend oneself.
Everyone has a responsibility to protect oneself from harm.
Caring for oneself isn't selfish, it's necessary.
Learning to cook is a good skill for taking care of oneself.
He took the advice to heart and began to listen to oneself more.
One often underestimates the capabilities of oneself.
He taught himself to rely less on others and more on oneself.
She encouraged every student to express oneself openly.
She put in extra hours to improve oneself in her craft.
He made it a goal to educate oneself about the world.
She decided it was time to forgive oneself and move on.
She found joy in discovering new things about oneself.
It's rewarding to see the improvement in oneself over time.
Oneself Idioms & Phrases
By oneself
Alone, without the company of others.
He prefers to work by oneself in the evenings.
At peace with oneself
Feeling mentally and emotionally calm.
After a long walk, she felt at peace with oneself.
Come into oneself
To become confident and mature.
As she grew older, she really came into oneself.
Make a name for oneself
To establish a good reputation.
He went to the city to make a name for oneself.
For oneself
For one's own benefit or personal satisfaction.
One should always make decisions for oneself, not for others.
In control of oneself
Being able to manage one's emotions or actions effectively.
During the debate, he remained in control of oneself.
To assert oneself
To behave in a way that expresses one's confidence or authority.
In meetings, she learned how to assert oneself effectively.
To better oneself
To improve one's social position or learning.
He took night classes to better oneself.
Keep to oneself
To avoid social interactions and keep one's thoughts private.
She tends to keep to oneself at parties.
Think for oneself
To form one's own opinions independently.
It's important to learn to think for oneself.
Common Curiosities
How many syllables are in oneself?
Oneself has two syllables.
How do we divide oneself into syllables?
Oneself is divided into syllables as "one-self."
How is oneself used in a sentence?
Oneself is used as a reflexive pronoun to refer to the subject of the sentence performing an action on themselves.
What is a stressed syllable in oneself?
The stressed syllable in "oneself" is the first syllable: "one."
What is the root word of oneself?
The root word of "oneself" is "one."
What is the verb form of oneself?
Oneself does not have a verb form; it is a pronoun.
Why is it called oneself?
Oneself is called this because it refers to an unspecified person reflecting actions or feelings back onto themselves.
What is the plural form of oneself?
Oneself does not have a plural form; it is used singularly.
Is oneself an abstract noun?
No, oneself is a reflexive pronoun, not a noun.
Is oneself a negative or positive word?
Oneself is neutral; it is neither inherently negative nor positive.
What is the pronunciation of oneself?
Oneself is pronounced as /ˈwʌnˌsɛlf/.
Is oneself an adverb?
No, oneself is not an adverb; it is a pronoun.
Is oneself a vowel or consonant?
Oneself starts with a vowel sound (/w/ sound).
Is oneself a countable noun?
Oneself is not a noun; it is a pronoun and does not have a countable form.
Is the word oneself is imperative?
No, "oneself" is not an imperative; it is a pronoun.
Which vowel is used before oneself?
The vowel sound before "oneself" depends on the context of the sentence; it does not have a fixed preceding vowel.
Which preposition is used with oneself?
Prepositions such as "by" or "with" can be used with "oneself" depending on the sentence (e.g., by oneself).
What part of speech is oneself?
Oneself is a pronoun.
What is the singular form of oneself?
The singular form of "oneself" is "oneself."
What is the opposite of oneself?
There is no direct opposite for the pronoun "oneself."
Is the oneself term a metaphor?
No, "oneself" is not used as a metaphor; it is a reflexive pronoun.
Is the word “oneself” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
Oneself can serve as a direct object in a sentence where it receives the action of the verb.
Which determiner is used with oneself?
Typically, no determiner is used with "oneself" as it is a reflexive pronoun.
What is another term for oneself?
Another term for "oneself" is "one's self."
Is oneself a noun or adjective?
Oneself is a pronoun.
Is oneself a collective noun?
No, oneself is a reflexive pronoun and not a collective noun.
Is the word oneself Gerund?
No, "oneself" is not a gerund; it is a pronoun.
Which conjunction is used with oneself?
Conjunctions are not specifically used with "oneself"; it depends on the sentence structure.
Which article is used with oneself?
No article is used with "oneself" as it is a reflexive pronoun.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
