' personal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "' personal" is not correct in written English as it appears to be a fragment and lacks context.
It could be used in a context where "personal" is meant to be part of a larger phrase, such as "personal information" or "personal opinion." Example: "Please keep your personal information confidential."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Perhaps not everyone's priority is having a 'beach body' (by the way, what is that?), and making somebody feel guilty for not prioritising it by questioning their personal choices is a step too far.

The Guardian

She said: "As Mr Darling consistently explained, he paid for personal tax advice himself.

The Guardian

Annalisa regrets she cannot enter into personal correspondence.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He pledged to cut his personal carbon footprint and emissions from his department's headquarters by 10% in 2010.

The Guardian

Nothing excludes or limits GNMA's liability for personal injury or death due to its negligence.

The Guardian

A Network Rail spokeswoman said Carne had made a personal decision.

The Guardian

"Huma represents what is best about America – the daughter of immigrants, who has risen to the highest levels of our government on the basis of her substantial personal merit and her abiding commitment to the American ideals that she embodies so fully.

The Guardian

Clinton first addressed the issue in March, shortly after transparency concerns were raised following reports that she used only a personal email account to conduct government business.

The Guardian

"The allegation that he changed addresses for personal gain is untrue.

The Guardian

The boom in gift cards is a kind of socially tolerable version of this: the cards are somehow more personal than cash, and they're also not going to be wasted on an unwanted gift.

The Economist

But the fact that more than fifteen per cent of personal consumption expenditures now go to medical care, when in 1930 only three per cent of personal consumption did, isn't a reflection of frivolity, and that's not going to change any time soon.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always complete "' personal" with a noun to clearly convey the intended meaning, such as "personal information", "personal opinion", or "personal experience".

Common error

Avoid using "' personal" without a noun. This fragment lacks specific meaning and can confuse the reader. Ensure you always complete the phrase with the relevant noun to maintain clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "' personal" functions as an incomplete adjective. It requires a noun to modify and provide a complete meaning. Ludwig AI highlights the need for completion, as demonstrated by the various examples where "personal" is followed by words like "information", "opinion", and "experience".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the fragment "' personal" is grammatically incorrect without a completing noun. Ludwig AI indicates that it requires context to become meaningful. Although widely used across various sources, primarily in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts, it should always be completed with a noun to ensure clarity. Common examples include "personal information", "personal opinion", and "personal experience". Using the fragment alone can lead to confusion and should be avoided in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

personal information

Adds the noun "information" to specify the type of data being referenced.

personal opinion

Adds the noun "opinion" to specify a subjective belief.

personal experience

Adds the noun "experience" to refer to an individual's lived events.

personal matter

Adds the noun "matter" to refer to a private issue.

personal life

Adds the noun "life" to refer to aspects of an individual's private existence.

private data

Replaces "personal" with "private", emphasizing confidentiality.

individual preferences

Replaces "personal" with "individual", emphasizing uniqueness.

individual matters

Replaces "personal" with "individual", to refer to private issues specific to the individual.

private affairs

Replaces "personal" with "private", focusing on confidentiality of personal matters.

confidential information

Emphasizes the sensitivity and secrecy of the data.

FAQs

How can I properly use the word "personal" in a sentence?

The word "personal" needs to be followed by a noun to make sense, such as "personal information", "personal opinion", or "personal experience".

What are some common phrases that start with the word "personal"?

Common phrases include "personal responsibility", "personal growth", and "personal space". These phrases provide context and clarity to the word "personal".

Is it correct to use "personal" without a noun following it?

No, it's generally incorrect. "Personal" is an adjective that needs to modify a noun to convey a complete meaning. Using it alone or with just an apostrophe implies missing information.

How does "personal" differ from "private"?

"Personal" generally refers to something relating to an individual, while "private" implies something is confidential or not intended for public knowledge. For example, "personal belongings" vs. "private information".