The short answer
Myself is a reflexive pronoun. Reflexive pronouns refer back to the subject of the sentence — they cannot start a sentence as the subject themselves. To introduce yourself, use “I am [Name]” or “My name is [Name]”.
When is ‘myself’ correct?
Reflexive pronouns have two valid uses in standard English:
Use 1 — Reflexive (subject and object are the same)
“I hurt myself.” — the subject (I) is also the object.
“She taught herself Python.”
Use 2 — Emphatic (to stress the subject did it personally)
“I will do it myself.”
“The Prime Minister himself attended the function.”
Wrong — Using reflexive as subject pronoun
“Myself Amirul Khan.” — no subject pronoun exists before “myself” to refer back to.
“Myself and my friend went to the market.” — wrong; use “My friend and I”.
Correct Introductions
The Full Reflexive Pronoun Table
| Subject | Reflexive | Correct example |
|---|---|---|
| I | myself | I did it myself. |
| you (singular) | yourself | You should believe in yourself. |
| he | himself | He hurt himself. |
| she | herself | She blamed herself. |
| it | itself | The door closed itself. |
| we | ourselves | We must protect ourselves. |
| you (plural) | yourselves | Help yourselves. |
| they | themselves | They introduced themselves. |
Why Does This Happen in Indian English?
In Hindi and Urdu, the word mera naam (my name) or main(I) is sometimes omitted or de-emphasised in rapid speech. Additionally, the reflexive introduction pattern “aapko apna parichay deta hoon” (I introduce myself to you) — when compressed — sounds like “myself [name]” in English. It has spread through formal presentations, office environments, and job interviews, and is now extremely widespread despite being grammatically wrong.
IELTS Speaking tip
IELTS examiners note pronoun errors. Starting your Part 1 introduction with “Myself [name]” immediately signals a pronoun problem and affects your Grammatical Range and Accuracy score. Use “I am [name]” — simple, correct, confident.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'Myself Amirul Khan' wrong?+
'Myself Amirul Khan' is wrong because 'myself' is a reflexive pronoun — it can only be used when the subject and object of the sentence refer to the same person ('I hurt myself') or for emphasis ('I did it myself'). It cannot replace the subject pronoun 'I'. The correct introduction is 'I am Amirul Khan' or 'My name is Amirul Khan'.
How should I introduce myself correctly in English?+
The correct forms are: 'I am Amirul Khan' (standard), 'My name is Amirul Khan' (clear and natural), or 'I am Amirul Khan, and I am a professor of English' (with context). Never begin an introduction with 'Myself' followed by your name — this is a common Indianism not used in standard English.
When can 'myself' be used correctly?+
'Myself' is correct in two situations: (1) As a reflexive object when you are both the subject and object — 'I introduced myself to the class.' (2) For emphasis — 'I myself completed the report.' It cannot replace 'I' as a subject: never say 'Myself and my team completed the project' — say 'My team and I completed the project'.
Read Next
Indian English Errors Hub
All 12 Indianisms — why they exist and what to say instead
Who vs. Whom — Complete Rules
Subject vs object pronoun in questions
Why Is 'Can Able To' Wrong?
Double modal — the most-marked Indian error
IELTS Writing Grammar Guide
Band-score grammar rules for Task 1 & 2
Interview English — Self-Introduction Guide
Annotated model answers for 'Tell me about yourself' — grammar explained, not just given