a personal benefit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a personal benefit" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing advantages or gains that are specific to an individual. Example: "Many people choose to volunteer because they find a personal benefit in helping others and contributing to their community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

Point out how unfair it is to listeners who don't have that celebrity pull and how the radio show host comes across as pulling status to get a personal benefit that the average person could never get.

WikiHow

That ruling made it more difficult to charge someone with insider trading if the person improperly leaking confidential information was not getting a personal benefit of some consequence.

The New York Times

The rally meant a personal benefit for Icahn, at least on paper, of half a billion dollars.

The New Yorker

Gregg Wind, an accountant in Los Angeles, says I.R.S. rules (see Publication 526) say you can't deduct anything from which you receive a personal benefit.

The New York Times

Under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, a company is not allowed to provide a personal benefit to a decision maker in return for business.

The New York Times

The Committee said that while public money had not been diverted to the benefit of the Conservative Party there had been a personal benefit to the agent.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

Sure, it's important that city managers can better identify water leaks, or more accurately predict the likelihood of a building failing an inspection, but there isn't a direct, personal, benefit to city dwellers.

TechCrunch

Participants reported that they were happy to expend effort answering the intervention's questions if they could see a clear personal benefit for doing so, such as receiving personalized feedback, receiving more in depth information, a welcome interaction to break up the text, or an indication that the intervention cared about their personal thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.

British Journal of Health Psychology

Herbert D. Rosenbaum, a professor emeritus of political science at Hofstra University, said that voters are indifferent to conceptual issues, are skeptical of a reform message coming from a politician and usually just go with who has given them a direct personal benefit.

The New York Times

They need to see a clear personal benefit.

The Guardian

If everyone refrained from reading, the economy would probably collapse, but too few of us perceive a direct personal benefit from reading to actually do much of it.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing ethics, clearly define what constitutes "a personal benefit" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Don't assume your audience understands what "a personal benefit" entails in a specific situation. Provide context and examples to clarify the nature of the benefit.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a personal benefit" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It refers to an advantage or gain that is specific to an individual. Ludwig AI confirms the validity of this expression.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

36%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a personal benefit" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe an advantage or gain accruing to an individual. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is widely used across diverse contexts, including News & Media and Science. While seemingly straightforward, clarity is crucial when using this phrase, especially in ethical discussions, to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "a private advantage" or "an individual gain" may offer more precision depending on the specific context. Being mindful of potential misunderstandings ensures effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a private advantage

Emphasizes the advantage being specific to an individual and not shared.

an individual gain

Focuses on the gain aspect, highlighting that the benefit is for a single person.

an advantage to the individual

Rephrases the concept to clearly state the recipient of the advantage.

a self-serving interest

Highlights the selfish nature of the benefit, implying it primarily serves the individual.

a gain for oneself

Emphasizes that the gain is specifically for the individual's own benefit.

a perk for oneself

Suggests the benefit is something extra or additional, often perceived as positive.

a selfish advantage

Highlights the selfish nature of the benefit.

a personal reward

Highlights the benefit as something earned or deserved by the individual.

a personal interest

Focuses on the personal aspect of the benefit.

an exclusive benefit

Emphasizes the benefit is exclusive to one person.

FAQs

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

You can use "a personal benefit" to describe advantages or gains that are specific to an individual. For example, "Volunteering can provide "a personal benefit" by boosting self-esteem."

What can I say instead of "a personal benefit"?

You can use alternatives like "a private advantage", "an individual gain", or "a self-serving interest" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a personal benefit" or "personal benefit"?

"A personal benefit" is generally more correct because the article "a" indicates that it's one instance of a personal advantage. "Personal benefit" without the article is used to describe the general concept.

What's the difference between "a personal benefit" and "a public service"?

"A personal benefit" refers to an advantage gained by an individual, whereas "a public service" refers to an action intended to benefit the community as a whole.