If you have any questions, ask John or myself. Question! Where did you learn to use “myself” incorrectly?

I’ll admit, I’m not an English teacher; I’m far from being one. But I feel like there are some grammar rules everyone should know. At least, anyone who has gone through primary education. When to use I or me. The difference between there, their, and they’re. Or the correct usage of you’re and your. I don’t usually say anything to anyone when they use improper grammar. I sure know I don’t always speak properly. However, I will speak up when it’s being used by someone who is trying belittle others. Anyways, I have been seeing, and hearing, “myself” being used incorrectly way too much lately. And I’m curious as to where this came from.

I’ve noticed it being used when people want to sound professional. Related to the “professional” aspect, I’ve been told that, I or me, sounds too self-centered. So to sound professional, people use “myself”. Wait, what? You’re using a word with the word “self” in it. How does this not make you not sound self-centered? Honestly, I really want to know.

Myself, himself/herself, and yourself are reflexive pronouns. They are used when the object of the sentence is also the subject of the sentence.  Channeling my inner elementary student, I remember reflexive pronouns with the sentence, “I see myself in the mirror”.  In this case, I am both the subject and the object in the sentence. What makes me remember this is; I see my reflection, which is the reflexive pronoun- myself. I hope this makes sense, and is correct. Otherwise, that just makes me a hypocrite.

Unfortunately, it seems, people are defending the incorrect use of “myself”. I did a quick Google search on the subject, just to make sure I knew what I thought I knew. I keep seeing people claim that it is “non-standard”, therefore it is not necessarily incorrect. This makes me feel sad. It’s as if we’re going to change the rules instead of teaching people the right way.

Anyways, I can see my attention is starting to drift. I guess I will call it a night. Hopefully everything makes sense, and I didn’t just make a fool of myself.