Selves or Selfs: Which Word Is Correct? Complete Grammar Guide

Selves or selfs is a common spelling confusion in English, especially when people try to make the word “self” plural. Although both forms may look logical, only one is considered correct in standard English.
The correct plural form of self is selves, while selfs is generally incorrect and should be avoided in normal writing.

Understanding why “selves” changes its spelling can help you avoid mistakes in essays, emails, professional documents, and everyday conversations. In this guide, you will learn the meaning of selves, why selfs is incorrect, the grammar rules behind the change, and how to use the word naturally in different situations.

(Quick Answer) Selves or Selfs

The correct plural form is selves, not selfs. The word selves means more than one person’s identity, personality, or individual nature. English changes the “f” in “self” to “v” before adding the plural ending “-es.” For example: “We should be our true selves.”

Comparison Table

Category	Selves	Selfs
Correct Word	Selves	Selfs
Incorrect Word	No	Yes, in standard English
Meaning	The plural form of self	Incorrect attempt to make self plural
Definition	Multiple individual identities, personalities, or beings	Not accepted as a standard plural form
Part of Speech	Plural noun or part of reflexive pronouns	Not a standard English word
Grammar Rule	Words ending in “f” sometimes change to “ves” when pluralized	Does not follow the standard plural pattern
Correct Usage	“They discovered their true selves.”	“They discovered their true selfs.”
Incorrect Usage	“The actors showed their different selfs.”	Incorrect spelling
Pronunciation	/selvz/	Not normally pronounced because it is incorrect
Common Mistake	Forgetting the “f” changes to “v”	Adding only “s” to make a plural
Memory Tip	Think: one self, many selves	Avoid “selfs” in formal English
Example	“We must accept our imperfect selves.”	“We must accept our imperfect selfs.”

Meaning of Each Word

What Does Selves Mean?

Selves is the correct plural form of self. It refers to more than one person’s identity, personality, character, or individual nature.

The word can describe different people, different versions of the same person, or the personal qualities that make someone unique.

For example:

• “The children expressed their creative selves through art.”
• “We should respect others’ true selves.”
• “The team members brought their best selves to the project.”

The word selves is commonly used when discussing personal identity, emotions, behavior, and personal growth.

Selves as a Noun

In most cases, selves works as a plural noun.

Examples:

• “The two sisters have very different selves.”
• “Our past selves can teach us important lessons.”
• “The characters in the novel reveal their hidden selves.”

Here, “selves” refers to different identities or forms of personality.

Selves in Reflexive Pronouns

The word also appears in plural reflexive pronouns:

• myself → ourselves
• yourself → yourselves
• himself → themselves
• herself → themselves
• itself → themselves

Examples:

• “They prepared themselves for the competition.”
• “You should believe in yourselves.”
• “The students challenged themselves.”

These words refer back to the subject performing an action.

What Does Selfs Mean?

Selfs is not accepted as the standard plural form of self in modern English. Most dictionaries do not recognize it as a correct plural spelling.

People often write “selfs” because many English nouns simply add “s” to become plural:

• book → books
• car → cars
• idea → ideas

However, English has many irregular plural forms, and self follows the same pattern as other words ending in “f.”

Examples:

• wolf → wolves
• leaf → leaves
• life → lives
• wife → wives
• self → selves

Therefore, “selfs” is considered a spelling mistake in standard English.

Key Differences Between Selves and Selfs

The main differences between selves and selfs are:

• Selves is correct; selfs is incorrect.
• Selves follows an irregular plural spelling rule.
• Selfs incorrectly applies the regular “add s” rule.
• Selves can describe multiple identities or personalities.
• Selfs should not be used in academic, professional, or formal writing.

Compare these sentences:

Correct:

• “The athletes brought their strongest selves to the event.”

Incorrect:

• “The athletes brought their strongest selfs to the event.”

The first sentence follows standard English grammar.

Grammar Rules for Selves

Why Does Self Change to Selves?

English has many nouns ending in -f or -fe that change to -ves when they become plural.

The general pattern is:

Singular noun ending in f/fe + plural ending → change f/fe to ves

Examples:

• half → halves
• knife → knives
• life → lives
• shelf → shelves
• self → selves

However, this is not a universal rule. Some words keep the “f” sound:

• roof → roofs
• belief → beliefs
• chef → chefs

Because English has exceptions, learning common forms is important.

Is Selves an Irregular Plural?

Yes. Selves is an irregular plural form because it does not simply add “s” or “es.”

The spelling changes:

• Singular: self
• Plural: selves

The pronunciation also changes slightly:

• self: /self/
• selves: /selvz/

When to Use Selves

Academic Writing

In academic writing, selves is used when discussing identity, psychology, sociology, philosophy, or human behavior.

Examples:

• “Social environments can influence how individuals understand their selves.”
• “The study explored how people develop different selves in various situations.”

Professional Writing

In workplace communication, selves often appears in expressions about personal qualities and teamwork.

Examples:

• “Employees are encouraged to bring their authentic selves to work.”
• “The leaders showed their best selves during the challenge.”

Formal English

The word selves is completely acceptable in formal writing.

Examples:

• “People often struggle to understand their future selves.”
• “We must recognize our responsibilities to our future selves.”

Business Writing

Companies often use “selves” when discussing employees, customers, and personal development.

Examples:

• “Our goal is to help customers become healthier versions of their selves.”
• “The training program helps employees develop their professional selves.”

Emails

In personal or professional emails, “selves” can appear naturally.

Examples:

• “I hope you and your family are enjoying yourselves.”
• “Please remember to take care of yourselves.”

Daily Conversation

People commonly use “selves” in everyday expressions.

Common phrases include:

• be yourself
• be yourselves
• your best selves
• your true selves
• our old selves

Examples:

• “Just be yourselves and enjoy the event.”
• “I finally feel like my old self again.”

Common Mistakes With Selves and Selfs

Mistake 1: Adding Only “S” to Self

Many learners write:

Incorrect:

• “We should accept our different selfs.”

Correct:

• “We should accept our different selves.”

The mistake happens because many English plurals are formed by adding “s.” However, “self” is an exception.

Mistake 2: Confusing Self With Selves

Some writers use “selves” when talking about one person.

Incorrect:

• “I need to focus on my better selves.”

Correct:

• “I need to focus on my better self.”

Use:

• self = one identity
• selves = multiple identities

Mistake 3: Forgetting Reflexive Pronouns

People sometimes incorrectly create their own versions of reflexive pronouns.

Incorrect:

• “They taught their selfs new skills.”

Correct:

• “They taught themselves new skills.”

The correct reflexive forms must be memorized.

Tips to Avoid Mistakes

• Remember that one person has a self, but many people have selves.
• Notice the spelling pattern: f changes to v.
• Learn common expressions using selves.
• Avoid writing “selfs” in formal communication.

Original Examples of Selves in Sentences

1. Students should believe in their own selves and abilities.
2. The writers explored their creative selves through poetry.
3. The employees brought their professional selves to the meeting.
4. The twins discovered that their personalities were different selves.
5. We often compare our present selves with our younger selves.
6. The book explains how people create identities and understand their inner selves.
7. The manager encouraged the team members to be their authentic selves.
8. The children enjoyed expressing their artistic selves during the activity.
9. Successful entrepreneurs often learn from their past selves.
10. The article discussed how social media affects people’s public selves.
11. The actors transformed into completely different selves for their roles.
12. You should always respect yourselves and your personal goals.
13. The researchers studied how people develop multiple social selves.
14. The speaker reminded everyone to trust their future selves.
15. The students prepared themselves for the final examination.
16. The community members showed their caring selves during the charity event.
17. The novel explores the hidden selves of its main characters.
18. Good leaders understand both their strengths and weaknesses as selves.

Memory Trick for Selves

Use this simple memory trick:

“One self has an f, many selves have a v.”

Think of other familiar words:

• wife → wives
• life → lives
• knife → knives
• self → selves

If you remember that “f” often changes to “v” in these plural forms, you will avoid writing “selfs.”

Mini Quiz

1. Which spelling is correct?

A. Selfs
B. Selves
C. Selfes
D. Selvez

Answer: B. Selves

2. What is the plural form of self?

A. Selfs
B. Selfes
C. Selves
D. Selfies

Answer: C. Selves

3. Which sentence is correct?

A. They showed their true selfs.
B. They showed their true selves.
C. They showed their true selfes.
D. They showed their true self.

Answer: B. They showed their true selves.

4. Which word follows the same plural pattern as self?

A. Roof
B. Belief
C. Knife
D. Chef

Answer: C. Knife

5. Which sentence uses selves correctly?

A. She found her different selves.
B. She found her different selfs.
C. She found her different self.
D. She found her different selfes.

Answer: A. She found her different selves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is selfs a real word?

No, selfs is not considered a correct plural form in standard English. The accepted plural form of self is selves. While some people may write “selfs” informally, it is incorrect in academic, professional, and formal writing.

Why does self become selves?

The word self becomes selves because English changes the final “f” sound to “v” when forming the plural. This pattern appears in several words, including life/lives and wife/wives. Therefore, the correct plural spelling follows the pattern self/selves.

Is selves only used for people?

Mostly, yes. Selves usually refers to people’s identities, personalities, or individual characteristics. It can describe different people or different versions of the same person, such as “past selves,” “future selves,” or “better selves.”

Can I use selves in formal writing?

Yes, selves is completely acceptable in formal writing. Writers use it in academic research, psychology, business communication, and professional discussions about identity, behavior, and personal development.

What is the difference between self and selves?

Self is singular and refers to one identity or person’s nature. Selves is plural and refers to multiple identities or personalities. For example, “my true self” means one identity, while “our true selves” refers to several people.

Is themselves related to selves?

Yes, themselves contains the word “selves” and follows the same plural idea. It is a plural reflexive pronoun used when the subject and object are the same people, such as “They introduced themselves.”

Key Takeaways

• Selves is the correct plural form of self.
• Selfs is an incorrect spelling in standard English.
• Self changes from “f” to “v” when becoming plural.
• Use self for one identity and selves for multiple identities.
• Selves appears often in phrases like “true selves,” “best selves,” and “future selves.”
• Reflexive words like themselves and yourselves follow the same plural pattern.
• Always use selves in academic, professional, and formal writing.

Conclusion

The correct choice between selves or selfs is simple: selves is the only standard plural form of self. English uses an irregular spelling pattern where the final “f” changes to “v” before adding the plural ending. Understanding this rule helps you write more accurately and confidently. Whether you are discussing personal identity, professional growth, or everyday experiences, remember that one person has a self, but many people have selves.