I would like to check the grammar on this sentence.
"You cannot teach a person directly, you can only help them discover it for themselves."
Is this better
"You cannot teach a person directly, you can only help them discover it for themself."

Question

anaise · Answer

I would prefer the first alternative.

perl · Answer

Thankyou.

anaise · Answer

Welcome :)

anaise · Answer

wait wtf, are you talking to a person
or in general
or is this a whole bunch of people

perl · Answer

that's the issue here.

anaise · Answer

If you are talking about one person in it would be self like leaf is to leaves
if it was in general it would be themselves

perl · Answer

I am talking to people about a particular person, his or her education

perl · Answer

`You` , the plural you

anaise · Answer

Well it make sense if selves was many people, and if you are not referring to the people are talking to, it wouldn't be selves

anaise · Answer

makes*

anaise · Answer

but if you mean that one person, and that one person only, I'd go with the singular version

perl · Answer

I see what you're saying :) 
here is another paraphrase
"You cannot teach a general person, you can only help them discover it for themselves."
but it sounds wonky

anaise · Answer

Indeed.

anaise · Answer

I would consider that incorrect, and if you were to choose something like that, I'd personally change up the wording.

perl · Answer

right :)

anaise · Answer

So do you prefer them-self or themselves?

perl · Answer

I will stick with themselves, but if someone would like to raise an objection I am willing to listen.

anaise · Answer

I am quite stumped, because using themselves would be almost incorrect.

perl · Answer

that's why I thought of changing to themself.

anaise · Answer

Exactly, themselves = a group. or people, not person

perl · Answer

Thanks again. I will check back later to see if other people comment.

anaise · Answer

No problem :)