@OmSigDAVID,
"Is there a word/term for someone who teaches themself?"
Quote:With all respect, Brokencdplayer (I hope u get it fixed),
I have an idea that there is no such word as "themself"
(Note also that "them" is plural and "self" is only singular.
What did I tell you, Osso?
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COED
themself
• pronoun third person sing. informal used instead of ‘himself’ or ‘herself’ to refer to a person of unspecified sex.
" USAGE The standard reflexive form corresponding to they and them is themselves, as in they can do it themselves. The singular form themself, first recorded in the 14th century, has re-emerged in recent years to correspond to the singular gender-neutral use of they, as in this is the first step in helping someone to help themself. It is not generally accepted as good English, however.
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Pronoun
themself
Reflexive and emphatic form of them when them is used as a non-gender-specific singular pronoun (singular they).
Someone has hurt themself.
Anyone who wants a car like mine can buy one themself.
2009 January 8, Samantha Maiden, “Hoaxer, out yourself: 'Demidenko'”, The Australian:
THE author who masqueraded as Helen Demidenko yesterday urged the hoaxer who deceived the respected right-wing journal Quadrant to unmask themself.
[edit]Synonyms
himself
herself
themselves in some dialects
thonself obsolete
xirself, eirself etc. (see Gender-neutral pronouns)
[edit]Usage notes
While proscribed by many, this word has been in common use for hundreds of years. The issue stems from the use of they as a gender-neutral third-person pronoun, also considered non-standard. More information can be found at the usage notes on that page.
Although many alternatives exist, most of them are considered unacceptable in certain contexts, so care should be taken in deciding which option is likely to be most acceptable for your audience.
Using himself as gender neutral is often considered politically incorrect.
Using herself as gender neutral can sound forcefully politically correct.
Using themselves in its singular meaning is also considered non-standard.
Using some form of alternative syntax (him/herself, him(her)self) can be cumbersome.
Using a constructed word (xirself, eirself etc. " see Gender-neutral pronouns) can sound forcefully politically correct and run the risk of not being understood.
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/themself?rdfrom=Themself
