How to use "avail yourself of"

What Does "avail yourself of" Mean?

The expression "avail yourself of" means to take advantage of something offered or available; to make use of an opportunity, service, or resource.
The meaning is semi-idiomatic. While "avail" on its own suggests benefit or advantage, the reflexive pronoun and preposition "of" create a specific construction implying active utilization.
Register: formal

How to Use It

Grammatical pattern: verb + reflexive pronoun + preposition + noun (object of the preposition).
Typical objects include opportunities, services, resources, information, and legal remedies. The preposition that always follows is "of."
The components cannot be separated. The reflexive pronoun (yourself, himself, herself, themselves, etc.) is essential.
What sounds unnatural: "avail to" (incorrect preposition), using a non-reflexive pronoun (e.g., "avail me of"), or attempting to separate "avail" from "yourself of."

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from avail yourself of on Ludwig.guru.

"College campuses are designed to respond to student needs, but the irony is, if you're feeling down, you are least likely to bein the frame of mind to avail yourself of all the services available to you." — The New York Times

""I don't think it is appropriate for an organisation to say to their staff or presenters that you cannot avail yourself of a legal remedy that is available by law," Nazareth added." — The Guardian

"And avail yourself of the vast pool of information available online, she told HuffPost." — Huffington Post

"There's a peculiar, faintly illicit sensation when you consciously avail yourself of someone else's pet word." — The New Yorker

"If you meet the membership criteria, you can join and avail yourself of a three-month C.D. with a 0.9 percent annual percentage yield." — The New York Times

Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/avail+yourself+of

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
take advantage of	More common and less formal; can sometimes have a negative connotation.
make use of	A neutral alternative, suitable for most contexts.
utilize	More formal and often used when referring to resources or tools.
employ	Similar to "utilize," but can also refer to using skills or abilities.
draw on	Implies using something as a source of support or information.
exploit	Can have a negative connotation, implying unfair or selfish use.
benefit from	Focuses on the positive outcome of using something.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is using the wrong preposition, such as 'avail to' instead of 'avail yourself of'.
Using a non-reflexive pronoun (e.g., "avail me of") is grammatically incorrect. The reflexive pronoun is essential.
Attempting to separate "avail" from "yourself of" results in an ungrammatical sentence.

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Meaning	Grammatical Pattern	Register
avail yourself of	To take advantage of; to make use of	verb + reflexive pronoun + of + noun	Formal

FAQs

Can the parts of "avail yourself of" be separated?

No, the parts of "avail yourself of" cannot be separated. It's a fixed expression where the reflexive pronoun and the preposition "of" are crucial for correct usage. For example, you can't say "avail of yourself."

How does "avail yourself of" differ from "take advantage of"?

While both phrases mean to make use of something, "avail yourself of" is generally more formal and suggests a readily available opportunity. "Take advantage of" can sometimes carry a negative connotation, implying exploitation, whereas "avail yourself of" typically does not.

What's wrong with saying "avail to" instead of "avail yourself of"?

Using "avail to" is a common mistake because it omits the necessary reflexive pronoun and the correct preposition. The correct and idiomatic expression is "avail yourself of," which includes the reflexive pronoun and the preposition "of" to properly convey the intended meaning of taking advantage of something.

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