learn the rule
myself misuse
myself is a reflexive pronoun. It points back to the subject of the sentence, who must be I.
It has two correct uses.
Reflexive (action returns to the doer)
Use myself when I am both the doer and the object of the action.
- I washed myself.
- I taught myself to bake.
- I could kick myself.
Intensifier (for emphasis)
Use myself to emphasise that I did something personally, not someone else.
- I built the shed myself.
- I want to meet her myself.
What you cannot do
You cannot use myself as a fancier replacement for me or I. This is the most common misuse.
- Wrong: Please send the report to John and myself.
- Right: Please send the report to John and me.
The sentence has no I anywhere. There is nothing for myself to refer back to. Use me.
- Wrong: Please send the report to John and myself.
- Right: Please send the report to John and me.
People reach for myself when they think me sounds too casual and I sounds wrong. The answer is almost always me. If you can't be bothered to read the rule on me or I, at least know that myself is not the safe option.
The test: is there an I elsewhere in the sentence for myself to point back to? If yes, you might be fine. If no, you want me. (See also: me or I.)
Using "myself" when you mean "me" is the linguistic equivalent of holding your fork like a pencil. Getting it wrong makes you look stupid. And ugly.