Understanding the Tautology: 'I Self-Taught Myself'

Have you ever found yourself hesitating before using the phrase 'I self-taught myself' in a conversation or writing? This article will explore the grammatical correctness of this phrase and provide alternatives to avoid tautology.

Is 'I Self-Taught Myself' Grammatically Correct?

No, the phrase 'I self-taught myself' is considered grammatically incorrect because it lacks a verb and introduces redundancy. In English, an essential grammatical requirement for any sentence is the presence of a verb. Without a verb, you cannot construct even the smallest sentence. This is why saying 'I self-taught myself' feels off. Let's break it down further.

Correct Alternatives

"I am self-taught": This phrase is more concise and avoids redundancy. "I taught myself": This is clearer and direct in its meaning.

Tautological Errors and their Consequences

The use of the phrase 'I self-taught myself' can be seen as a tautology—a repetition of the same idea in different words. Tautology can make your statement feel clumsy and less polished, especially in formal writing and speech.

For instance, saying 'No, that is tautological. It should be either: “I’m self-taught” or “I taught myself how to do something.”' is a much more precise and articulate way to express the same idea. This is particularly useful if you are aiming for clarity and conciseness in your communication.

Common Examples of Tautologies

Many common phrases contain redundancies. For example:

"I self-quarantined myself with Netflix and GrubHub": Here, 'self-' is used twice without adding new meaning. A more effective way to say this is: "I quarantined myself with Netflix and GrubHub." "I self-administered myself a sixpack of pain relief": Again, 'self-' is unnecessarily repeated. A better expression is: "I administered a sixpack of pain relief to myself."

Context and Informality

While 'I self-taught myself' is grammatically incorrect, it might be used in casual conversation without immediate detection of a mistake. In informal settings, many people might not pay attention to the redundancy. However, in formal writing or professional communication, this phrase can detract from the clarity and professionalism of your message.

Consider the following example: If you said this in casual conversation, I and most other people probably wouldn’t even register that it was "a mistake." However, if you wrote this in a formal essay, I'd read it and think the style was rather clumsy. Therefore, it is best to avoid such phrases in formal contexts to maintain a polished and clear style.

Conclusion

Understanding and avoiding tautology is crucial for effective communication. The phrase 'I self-taught myself' is a common tautology that can be replaced with 'I am self-taught' or 'I taught myself.' By using these alternatives, you can enhance the clarity and strength of your message, making it more effective in both informal and formal settings.