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Why "itself" stands alone: unpacking a common mistake
Anwar Kareem 01/10/2024, 04:17English.me team member
What kind of error is it?
It's a spacing and compound word error.
Why do people make this mistake?
People might mistakenly add a space due to misunderstanding "itself" as two separate words or due to a lack of familiarity with compound pronouns.
What is correct?
"Itself" is the correct form because it is a compound pronoun that is used to emphasize the subject.
Examples of correct usage
- The cat cleaned itself.
- The machine operates by itself.
- She painted the room herself.
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