a personal interest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a personal interest" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an individual's specific concern, hobby, or passion that is unique to them. Example: "She has a personal interest in environmental conservation, which drives her volunteer work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Take a personal interest in each person and their family.

WikiHow

I have a personal interest in "Tomatoland".

The New York Times - Books

Perhaps I should declare a personal interest.

The New York Times

He also had a personal interest.

The Guardian

I must confess a personal interest.

The Guardian - Books

With a personal interest, and an impartiality.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Those Marines have a personal interest involved.

The New York Times

He takes a personal interest in where his watches go.

The New York Times

Moreover, he also takes a personal interest in his players".

The Guardian - Sport

Harman has taken a personal interest in my actions.

The Guardian - Opinion

(Full disclosure: I have a personal interest in this story.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a personal interest", clearly define the area or topic of interest to provide context and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a personal interest" to describe activities that are part of your job or professional responsibilities; this term should primarily refer to genuine passions or concerns outside of required duties.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a personal interest" primarily functions as a noun phrase, identifying a specific concern, hobby, or passion unique to an individual. Ludwig shows its usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a personal interest" is a commonly used noun phrase that signifies an individual's specific concern, hobby, or passion. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and highlights its prevalent usage in diverse contexts, including news, encyclopedias, and academic works. While versatile, it's crucial to use the phrase accurately, distinguishing it from professional obligations and clearly defining the subject of interest. Alternatives like "a vested interest" or "a special interest" can offer nuanced expressions, depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a vested interest

Indicates a direct personal stake, often financial, making the involvement more significant.

a special interest

Implies a particular and possibly unique concern, often in a specific area or topic.

a deep interest

Highlights the intensity and extent of one's concern or curiosity.

a particular interest

Emphasizes that the interest is specific and not general.

a private interest

Suggests the interest is personal and not necessarily publicly declared.

a strong interest

Focuses on the high degree of concern or enthusiasm.

a keen interest

Implies an enthusiastic and eager concern.

a marked interest

Highlights the noticeable or evident nature of the concern.

a consuming interest

Signifies that the interest occupies a significant amount of one's time and thoughts.

a pronounced interest

Suggests that the interest is very noticeable and distinct.

FAQs

How can I express having "a personal interest" in a topic?

You can say "I have "a personal interest" in this", "I'm personally interested in this", or "This is of personal interest to me".

What's the difference between "a personal interest" and "a professional interest"?

"A "personal interest"" is something you enjoy or are concerned about in your own time, while "a professional interest" is related to your job or career.

When is it appropriate to disclose "a personal interest"?

It's appropriate to disclose "a "personal interest"" when it might affect your objectivity or create a conflict of interest in a decision-making process.

What are some alternatives to saying "I have "a personal interest""?

Depending on the context, you could say "I'm "passionate about"", "I'm "concerned with"", or "I'm "invested in"" instead.