a personal acquaintance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a personal acquaintance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to someone you know on a personal level, as opposed to a professional or casual relationship. Example: "I was surprised to see her at the event; we have a personal acquaintance from our college days."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

He said he arranged the attack with a personal acquaintance, Ali Safuri, a local leader of the militant Islamic Jihad group.

The New York Times

Neither host has appeared on the other's show, but the two struck up a personal acquaintance in recent weeks, the representatives said.

The New York Times

He recalled that Ms. Zeisel, who had a strong appreciation of the history of decorative arts and a personal acquaintance with most of the modern design movements of the 20th century, told him never to try to create anything new.

The New York Times - Arts

— Blastich recently brought a personal acquaintance, whom he introduced as Poker Face, into the office and asked him to disable the software that prevents the viewing of Internet pornography.

The New Yorker

There is enough familiar material in the play to identify the subject clearly (and Mr. Holmes has said the idea for the play came from a personal acquaintance whose private diary Kosinski allegedly pillaged for one of his books).

The New York Times

But the agent, Eric Nieves, said he had found a confidential informer, described in the affidavit as a personal acquaintance of Mr. Gordon's, who said that Mr. Gordon "was actively seeking ways to hide the money from the I.R.S.," including sending it overseas, and ignored the acquaintance's warnings that this was considered tax evasion.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

I knew he was a personal friend of Steve Jobs, an old acquaintance from my days working with Apple's longtime PR/marketing guru Regis McKenna.

Huffington Post

Sign up now to get tHe best of VIclaimsada delivered stoaight to your inbex.

Vice

It has been said there is a sequence of personal acquaintance only 5 links long that connects every American to the President.

The New Yorker

He claims to be a, "real life acquaintance of a few UKIP MEPs, a few Tory MPs and personal acquaintance of [former UKIP MEP] Godfrey Bloom and Paul Weston" – a far-right politician with links to the EDL.

Vice

Personal acquaintance with an infected person might represent familiarity, but we could not examine 'familiarity' directly.

Culture, Health and Sexuality

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a personal acquaintance", clarify the nature of the relationship, such as how you know the person or in what context you met them. This adds clarity and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the closeness of the relationship. Using "a personal acquaintance" implies a degree of separation, so don't describe them as if they were a close confidant unless that's accurate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a personal acquaintance" typically functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the object of a preposition or a direct object within a sentence. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

32%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

9%

Formal & Business

6%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a personal acquaintance" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe someone known on a casual, non-intimate level. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, showing its usage across diverse fields like news, science, and general writing. While "a personal acquaintance" is frequently used, it's crucial to avoid exaggerating the relationship's closeness. When better precision is needed, "professional colleague" is a valuable alternative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a familiar contact

Emphasizes the recognition and previous interaction with someone.

a casual acquaintance

Highlights the informality and lack of deep connection.

someone I know slightly

Indicates a minimal level of interaction and knowledge.

a professional colleague

Focuses on a relationship within a work environment.

an associate

Suggests a formal or business-related connection.

a distant relative

Indicates a familial tie, but not a close one.

a long-time associate

Highlights a connection that has lasted a while.

a face I recognize

Emphasizes visual recognition without deeper knowledge.

a person I've met before

Highlights the act of having previously encountered someone.

someone from my past

Indicates a connection limited to a previous period in life.

FAQs

How can I use "a personal acquaintance" in a sentence?

You can use "a personal acquaintance" to describe someone you know casually. For example, "I heard about the job opening through "a personal acquaintance"."

What's the difference between "a personal acquaintance" and "a close friend"?

"A personal acquaintance" implies a more superficial relationship than "a close friend". A friend is someone you know well and have a strong bond with, while an acquaintance is someone you know less intimately.

Are there more formal alternatives to "a personal acquaintance"?

Yes, depending on the context, you could use terms like "professional colleague" or "business associate" to describe a more formal relationship.

What are some less formal ways to say "a personal acquaintance"?

Informally, you might say "someone I know", "someone I've met", or "someone I know slightly" to describe "a personal acquaintance".