a personal information

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a personal information" is not correct in English.
The correct form is "personal information" without the article "a" because "information" is an uncountable noun. Example: "Please do not share any personal information online."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

As an example, we describe CompanionViz, a personal information visualization prototype designed to inform pet owners on their dogs' caloric inputs/outputs, as well as exercise and movement habits.

International Journal of Human-Computer Studies

Despite the fact that much of the research behind the personalities of Microsoft Bob, a personal information manager, and Clippy, an assistant inside Microsoft Office, was based on the work of Nass and Reeves, the behaviors exhibited by these products were deemed nearly universally annoying by users.

HuffPost

But for the time being Facebook executives seem to continue to follow a trend of explaining themselves on Twitter, so we'll take that as the current statement for Facebook.

TechCrunch

I built a telephone application that benefits from the exchange of context information with a personal information manager to help users prioritize calls and make better-informed decisions about them.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"I have a personal information form.

The New York Times

"I call it a personal information repository," he said.

The New York Times - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

So why do Twitter and Facebook act like there is a personal information-technology equivalent?

MIT Technology Review

A little personal information about me: I've never seen a single episode of Lost.

TechCrunch

myAppointments is a small personal information manager system that follows the MVC architectural pattern.

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

One that looks particularly vulnerable is ACT, a popular personal information manager widely used to keep track of corporate contacts.

Forbes

Users often do so by accessing their NetNavis via a "PET (PErsonal information Terminal)" device.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to personal information, omit the article "a". Use "personal information" without the article, as information is an uncountable noun. For example, "Please review our privacy policy regarding personal information."

Common error

Avoid using the indefinite article "a" before "personal information". It is grammatically incorrect because "information" is an uncountable noun. Instead of saying "a personal information", say "personal information".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a personal information" functions as a noun phrase, but its use is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI explains, "information" is an uncountable noun and should not be preceded by the indefinite article "a".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

36%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "a personal information" appears frequently in various sources, it's crucial to recognize that it's grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, "information" is an uncountable noun, so it doesn't take the article "a". Instead, use "personal information". When describing related data, options like "personal data" or "private information" are suitable alternatives. Remember to prioritize grammatical correctness, especially in professional and academic contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

personal data

Replaces "information" with "data", a more formal term often used in contexts concerning privacy and security. Avoids the article "a" because personal data is an uncountable noun.

private information

Emphasizes the sensitive nature of the information, highlighting its confidentiality.

personal details

Replaces "information" with "details", focusing on specific pieces of personal data.

biographical information

Specifies that the information relates to a person's life and experiences.

identifying information

Highlights the use of the information to identify an individual.

personal identification information

More formal and comprehensive version of 'identifying information'.

confidential information

Focuses on the confidentiality aspect of the data.

personal profile

Implies a compiled summary of personal information.

individual information

Highlights that the information is about an individual.

sensitive personal information

Adds an emphasis to the particularly sensitive nature of the details.

FAQs

How to correctly use "personal information" in a sentence?

Use "personal information" without the article "a". For example, "Protect your personal information online" is correct, while "a personal information" is not.

Is it correct to say "a personal information"?

No, it is not correct. "Information" is an uncountable noun, so it does not take the indefinite article "a". You should say just "personal information".

What are some alternatives to "personal information"?

You can use alternatives like "personal data", "private information", or "personal details" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "personal information" and "personal data"?

While often used interchangeably, "personal data" is frequently used in more formal or legal contexts, particularly concerning privacy regulations. Both refer to information relating to an identifiable individual; consider using "personal data" when referring to privacy policies or legal compliance, and "personal information" for general contexts.