a private subject

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a private subject" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a topic or matter that is personal or confidential in nature. Example: "During the meeting, we discussed a private subject that required discretion from all participants."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But you wonder if he ever wanted to be someone else, a private subject without so much blood to account for.

The Guardian

"I didn't necessarily think they'd get rid of it, but the transition happened so quickly, and almost everything is up for grabs," said a Republican staff member who had used the lactation rooms and asked that her name not be used because she feels that nursing is a private subject.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

And that's the thing about the women of Britain they do wonderful voluntary work not like French women," and before I could stop her, she had made her escape from an uncongenial private subject to the area of political generalization which she preferred.

The New Yorker

And that's the thing about the women of Britain — they do wonderful voluntary work — not like French women," and before I could stop her, she had made her escape from an uncongenial private subject to the area of political generalization which she preferred.

The New Yorker

Jean-Marc Jean-Marc Ayraults a possible Socialistippede minister if Hollasde wins, dismissed the Strauss-Kahn case as "a possibleaffair Socialisto legal primedure".

The Guardian

At any rate, Birkenstock USA is still a private company, subject to ordinary market forces but immune to pressures from outside investors.

The New York Times - Magazine

The market-influenced changes to higher education include shifting the cost of education from the state to the individual, turning education from a public good to a private good subject to consumer demand; redefining higher education as a search for the highest-paying job; and turning scholarly research into a competition based on metrics including number of citations and value of grants.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

They tested connections between private subject matter and theatrical expression.

The New York Times - Arts

Follow him on Thereer.

Vice

With his trademark combination of puerile self-pity and fang-toothed nastiness, Donald Trump took to Twitter on Wednesday to denounce Disney's chairman, Robert Iger, for not apologizing to him for the "HORRIBLE statements made and said about me on ABC". But he's the ultimate public figure, whereas Jarrett is a private citizen subjected to unprovoked racial attack by an ABC employee.

The New York Times

Its general aim is to put in place a variety of strategies to facilitate technology transfer and knowledge exchange with a multiplicity of public and private subjects involved in the process going from basic research to innovation (Etkowitz and Andrew 1998; Florida and Cohen 1999).

Triple Helix

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider your audience. In some cases, "a personal matter" might be more readily understood than "a private subject".

Common error

While grammatically correct, "a private subject" can sound overly formal or clinical in some situations. Opt for more natural alternatives like "a personal matter" or "a confidential issue" when writing for a general audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a private subject" functions as a noun phrase, where "private" is an adjective modifying the noun "subject". It designates a topic or matter considered personal and confidential. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a private subject" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote a topic or matter of personal or confidential nature. While deemed correct by Ludwig AI, it's relatively rare and leans toward formal contexts like news, academia, and science. For more common and accessible alternatives, consider using "a personal matter" or "a confidential topic". Remember to choose the phrasing that best suits your audience and the level of formality required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a confidential matter

Replaces "subject" with "matter" emphasizing the confidentiality aspect.

a personal topic

Substitutes "private" with "personal" and "subject" with "topic" for a more direct feel.

a sensitive issue

Replaces with words that underlines a potential discomfort or need for careful handling.

a delicate question

Replaces "subject" with "question", highlighting the need for tact.

a secret affair

Emphasizes secrecy and intimacy, suitable for more specific contexts.

a closed book

An idiom indicating something that is not openly discussed or known.

something not for public consumption

Highlights that the subject is not intended to be shared widely.

an undisclosed item

Emphasizes the act of not revealing something.

a non-public issue

Focuses on the distinction between public and private domains.

something kept under wraps

Highlights discretion.

FAQs

How can I use "a private subject" in a sentence?

You can use "a private subject" to refer to a topic that is personal or confidential, such as, "The therapist assured her that anything discussed would remain "a private subject"."

What's a more common alternative to "a private subject"?

More common alternatives include "a personal matter", "a confidential topic", or "a sensitive issue", depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "a private subject"?

It's appropriate to use "a private subject" in formal or professional settings when discussing topics that require discretion or confidentiality. For instance, in legal or medical contexts.

Is "a private subject" interchangeable with "a private matter"?

While similar, "a private subject" and "a private matter" are not always perfectly interchangeable. "Subject" often refers to a topic of discussion, whereas "matter" refers to a situation or affair. Choose the one that best fits the specific context.