When Self is a prefix, it is attached by a hyphen to other words. Most of these are adjectives and nouns. Let’s look at the differences between the vocabulary pictured in our featured image from the English Vocabulary Profile (EVP) and that found in a search in the NOW corpus (while it is 16.2 billion+) for self-*.
The first alphabetically listed item in the EVP “self-assurance” is 24 times less common than the most frequent and unlisted vocabulary item “self-driving“.
1 SELF-DRIVING 58535 (unlisted adjective)
this was one of those self-driving cars.
2 SELF-EMPLOYED 50700 (unlisted adjective)
You must realize as a self-employed writer,
there’s virtually nothing
you can not claim off your tax.
3 SELF-ESTEEM (NN1) 49269 C1
The only chick with low self-esteem that I wanted tonight is you.
4 SELF-DETERMINATION (NN1) 39871
5 SELF-ISOLATE (JJ) 39695 (not all of these are tagged correctly. This looks like it should be a verb)
6 SELF-PROCLAIMED (JJ) 35247
7 SELF-SUFFICIENT (JJ) 25972 C2
Because their success and survival depended on staying hidden from the outside world,
these Swamp communities were largely self-sufficient.
8 SELF-CONFIDENCE (NN1) 25554 B2
I‘m starting to get my self-confidence back.
9 SELF-DEFENCE (NN1) 25145
10 SELF-SERVICE (JJ) 23199 B1
He just gets flustered at self-service checkouts
and takes things without scanning them.
11 SELF-INTEREST (NN1) 22934
12 SELF-ISOLATION (NN1_JJ) 21828
13 SELF-HELP (JJ_NN1) 19977
14 SELF-DEFENSE (NN1_JJ) 19496
15 SELF-INFLICTED (JJ_NN1) 18434
16 SELF-CONTAINED (JJ) 18429
17 SELF-SUFFICIENCY (NN1) 18257
18 SELF-AWARENESS (NN1) 17895 C2
We are the only beings on the planet
that have this type of self-awareness,
which is called consciousness.
19 SELF-IMPOSED (JJ_NN1) 17623
20 SELF-MADE (JJ) 17480 C2
we are rushing into this self-made disaster
21 SELF-RELIANT (JJ) 16516 C2
How do we raise self-reliant kids
who have initiative,
and who could be problem solvers?
22 SELF-DESCRIBED (JJ_NN1) 15643
23 SELF-HARM (NN1_JJ) 15507
24 SELF-SERVING (JJ_NN1) 15215
25 SELF-CARE (NN1_JJ) 15016
26 SELF-STYLED (JJ_NN1) 14379
27 SELF-QUARANTINE (NN1_JJ) 14110
28 SELF-CONTROL (NN1) 13240 C2
No, no, because I can practice some self-control, unlike some people I know.
Oh, really? That hurts, kind of.
29 SELF-CONSCIOUS (JJ) 13105 C1
Well, ever since the big fire,
they‘ve been quite self-conscious
about showing themselves in public.
30 SELF-TITLED (JJ_NN1) 12545
31 SELF-AWARE (JJ) 12019
32 SELF-WORTH (JJ_NN1@) 11290
33 SELF-EXPRESSION (NN1) 10978
34 SELF-CONFESSED (JJ) 10725
35 SELF-RELIANCE (NN1_JJ) 10658 C2
Not at all.
Self-reliance is the key to a vigorous life.
36 SELF-REGULATION (NN1) 10335
37 SELF-RESPECT (NN1) 10304
Why don’t I have any self-respect?!
You‘re an actress, honey.
38 SELF-TAUGHT (JJ_NN1) 10087
39 SELF-LOVE (NN1) 10043
40 SELF-EVIDENT (JJ) 9981
41 SELF-CARE (JJ_NN1) 9735
42 SELF-ISOLATION (JJ_NN1) 9286
43 SELF-DESTRUCTIVE (JJ) 9138
44 SELF-ISOLATING (JJ_NN1) 9031
45 SELF-ASSESSMENT (NN1) 8780
46 SELF-REPORTED (JJ_NN1) 8712
47 SELF-BELIEF (NN1_JJ) 8646
48 SELF-DOUBT (NN1_JJ) 8639
49 SELF-GOVERNMENT (NN1) 7990
50 SELF-APPOINTED (JJ) 7670
51 SELF-GOVERNING (JJ) 7468
52 SELF-DEFENSE (JJ_NN1) 7448
53 SELF-DISCOVERY (NN1_JJ) 7368
54 SELF-DESCRIBED (JJ) 7238
55 SELF-DRIVING (JJ) 6929
56 SELF-SUSTAINING (JJ_NN1) 6917
57 SELF-EMPLOYMENT (NN1_JJ) 6474
58 SELF-RIGHTEOUS (JJ) 6360
59 SELF-DEPRECATING (JJ_NN1) 6296
60 SELF-HELP (NN1_JJ) 6155
61 SELF-DECLARED (JJ_NN1) 6104
62 SELF-DESTRUCTION (JJ) 5907
SELF-ASSURED 5861
with superficial relationships
with older, seemingly self-assured guys.
(*not sure why this item was not listed in the initial search,
it only appeared in an individual search)
63 SELF-INDULGENT (JJ) 5783
64 SELF-REFLECTION (NN1_JJ) 5778
65 SELF-REGULATORY (JJ) 5726
66 SELF-ISOLATING (JJ) 5688
67 SELF-EXPLANATORY (JJ) 5672
68 SELF-FULFILLING (JJ_NN1) 5648
69 SELF-DIRECTED (JJ_NN1) 5628
70 SELF-CARE (NN1) 5544
71 SELF-INTERESTED (JJ) 5521
72 SELF-SERVE (JJ) 5417
73 SELF-FUNDED (JJ_NN1) 5263
74 SELF-PUBLISHED (JJ_NN1) 5113
75 SELF-DISCIPLINE (NN1_JJ) 4832 C2
that you have the physical strength, the self-discipline, and the mental stamina
necessary to meet the high standards of the united states army.
76 SELF-HARM (JJ_NN1) 4822
77 SELF-SERVING (JJ) 4793
78 SELF-EFFACING (JJ) 4733
79 SELF-GUIDED (JJ_NN1) 4679
80 SELF-ISOLATING (NN1_JJ) 4616
81 SELF-PRESERVATION (NN1_JJ) 4607
82 SELF-CATERING (JJ) 4578 C1
Further search for collocates:
1 ACCOMMODATION 762
Accommodation options include self-catering
B&Bs to boutique and luxury hotels.
2 NIGHTS 460
3 COTTAGES 337
4 SEVEN 319
5 APARTMENTS 274
83 SELF-CENTRED (JJ) 4553 C1 (note two different spellings)
I think they‘re vain, stupid and incredibly self-centred.
84 SELF-RULE (NN1) 4488
85 SELF-RULED (JJ_NN1) 4444
86 SELF-SACRIFICE (NN1) 4421
87 SELF-DEFEATING (JJ_NN1) 4394
88 SELF-IMPROVEMENT (NN1_JJ) 4340
89 SELF-PORTRAITS (NN2) 4333
90 SELF-IMAGE (NN1_JJ) 4303
91 SELF-EMPLOYMENT (JJ_NN1) 4287
92 SELF-RESPECTING (JJ_NN1) 4259
93 SELF-CENTERED (JJ) 4166
94 SELF-DRIVING (NN1_JJ) 4160
95 SELF-PITY (NN1_JJ) 4118
96 SELF- (JJ_NN1) 4085
97 SELF-INFLICTED (JJ) 4082
98 SELF-MANAGEMENT (NN1) 4054
99 SELF-IDENTIFIED (JJ_NN1) 4025
100 SELF-PROFESSED (JJ_NN1) 3984
SELF-CONFIDENT (JJ) 3557 B2
My feelings might have even been hurt
if I wasn’t such a self-confident individual.
SELF-ASSURANCE 2391 C2
there’s a certain arrogance about you,