intimate history

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "intimate history" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a personal or detailed account of someone's past experiences or relationships, often conveying a sense of closeness or familiarity. Example: "In her memoir, she shares an intimate history of her childhood and the challenges she faced growing up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Music enjoyed a particularly intimate history.

The Economist

EARTH: An Intimate History, by Richard Fortey.

The New York Times

Lynsey Hanley's Estates: An Intimate History is published by Granta.

The Guardian - Books

David Kynaston Estates: An Intimate History by Lynsey Hanley (Granta).

The Guardian - Books

Your Google search record is the intimate history of your life.

The New York Times

This telepathy is presumably a result of the group's long and intimate history.

The New York Times - Arts

Brodie, F. M. Thomas Jefferson: An Intimate History (Norton, New York, 1974).

Nature

The Roosevelts: An Intimate History is out on DVD this month.

The Guardian - Opinion

What prompted you to write your new book, "The Gene: An Intimate History"?

Columbia University

Other worthwhile works include Richard Fortey 's The Earth: An Intimate History (HarperCollins £25).

The Guardian - Books

An earlier version gave the title of her previous work, Estates: An Intimate History.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Choose this phrase when you specifically want to convey not just historical facts but the emotional and personal impact of those facts on individuals or small groups. It's less appropriate for purely objective or statistical analyses.

Common error

Avoid using "intimate history" when describing broad, impersonal historical trends or events. It's not suitable for describing large-scale political or economic shifts unless the focus is on their individual and personal impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "intimate history" functions primarily as a noun phrase where the adjective "intimate" modifies the noun "history". It specifies the type or quality of the history being described, focusing on its personal and detailed nature. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

19%

Science

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "intimate history" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It serves to describe a historical account that is personal, detailed, and emotionally resonant. Predominantly found in News & Media, Academia, and Scientific sources, it emphasizes individual experiences and emotional connections over broad, impersonal trends. When using this phrase, remember to focus on the personal impact of historical events and not on the objective data alone. Alternatives such as "personal narrative" or "detailed family history" might be more appropriate depending on the specific context you need.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

detailed family history

Refers specifically to genealogy and familial events, which is a narrower scope.

private chronicle

Highlights the confidential or personal nature of the historical record.

insider's account

Suggests a narrative from someone directly involved or with privileged knowledge.

personal narrative

Focuses on individual experience rather than a broader historical context.

personal background

Focuses on someone's upbringing and life events, not necessarily broad history.

detailed past

Emphasizes thoroughness of the historical account, less on the personal connection.

in-depth background

Stresses the comprehensive nature of the historical information.

close acquaintance with the past

Shifts the focus to the level of familiarity and understanding of history.

familiar story

Implies a well-known or often-told historical narrative.

inner workings

Implies a close look at the operating mechanism of something.

FAQs

How can I use "intimate history" in a sentence?

You can use "intimate history" to describe a personal or detailed account of someone's past experiences or relationships. For example: "The biography provides an "intimate history" of the artist's early struggles and triumphs."

What is an alternative to "intimate history"?

Alternatives include "personal narrative", "private chronicle", or "detailed family history", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "intimate history"?

It is appropriate when the focus is on the personal or closely detailed aspects of a historical narrative, emphasizing emotional connections and individual experiences rather than broad historical trends.

What distinguishes "intimate history" from a regular history?

"Intimate history" focuses on personal accounts and detailed experiences, while a regular history tends to provide a broader, more objective overview of events and trends.