on a personal capacity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on a personal capacity" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that you are taking action as an individual rather than in your professional or official capacity. For example, "I am donating $500 to charity on a personal capacity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Reuters quoted him as saying, "On a personal capacity, I am not going to respond to what people are saying".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

All working on this in a personal capacity giving their time and experience free.

The Guardian

"Nazanin had travelled to Iran in a personal capacity, on a family holiday with her two-year-old daughter, Gabriella".

The Guardian

He stressed after the interview that he was speaking in a personal capacity on that issue.

The Guardian

Ms. Lazaar, on sabbatical from Sotheby's, where she is a contemporary art specialist, has worked in a personal capacity on the Venice project.

The New York Times

Nazanin had travelled to Iran in a personal capacity on a holiday to visit her parents as she had been doing every six months since the birth of her daughter Gabriella".

The Guardian

Conveniently, agency lawyers argued that officers who were on unpaid leave "acting in a personal capacity and not subject to C.I.A. direction" were not bound by a law forbidding the agency from participating in domestic security operations.

The New York Times

The Dalai Lama has said that he will continue travelling around the world as a religious leader and will still speak on Tibetan issues, albeit in a personal capacity.

BBC

"Of course, the Freedom of Information Campaign would criticise any review.... but I go into this inquiry to be as open-minded as possible and to weigh the evidence carefully including that from the Freedom of Information Campaign". A Labour source said Mr Straw was acting in a personal capacity on the commission and was not representing the party.

BBC

We will need greater clarity, in future, on whether their remarks, including those of the Governor, are made in a personal capacity or on behalf of the MPC".

The Guardian - Business

All of the scientists signed up in a personal capacity, not on behalf of the National Academy or on behalf of their institution.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "on a personal capacity" to clearly distinguish actions or statements made independently from one's professional or official role. This clarifies that the individual is not representing an organization or institution.

Common error

Avoid using "on a personal capacity" when your actions or statements could be perceived as representing your organization or employer, even if that is not your intention. Ensure that your personal actions cannot be misconstrued as official endorsements or policies.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on a personal capacity" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. It specifies the manner in which an action is performed, indicating that it is done by an individual acting independently, not in an official or representative role, as exemplified by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Formal & Business

17%

Science

17%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "on a personal capacity" is a useful way to indicate that actions or statements are made by an individual acting independently, not in an official or representative role. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically correct and provides examples of its use in reputable sources. It's most commonly found in news and business contexts. To ensure clarity, use it when your role might be ambiguous. Consider alternatives like "in my individual capacity" or "as an individual" depending on the desired level of formality. Remember to avoid any actions or statements that could be misconstrued as official endorsements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in my individual capacity

Emphasizes the individual nature of the action, replacing 'personal' with 'individual'.

as an individual

Simplifies the phrase to highlight the individual's role.

in a non-official capacity

Focuses on the lack of official representation.

in a private capacity

Replaces 'personal' with 'private', suggesting a more informal setting.

on my own accord

Highlights that the action is taken voluntarily and independently.

independently

Shortens the phrase, emphasizing independence from any organization.

not on behalf of

Focuses on the absence of representation for a group or organization.

in a personal role

Substitutes 'capacity' with 'role', maintaining a similar meaning.

as a private citizen

Emphasizes the individual's status as a citizen, not an official representative.

for myself

Highlights that the action is done for the speaker's own purposes.

FAQs

How can I use "on a personal capacity" in a sentence?

You can use "on a personal capacity" to indicate that you are acting or speaking as an individual, not as a representative of an organization. For example, "I am attending the conference "in a personal capacity", not as a delegate of my company."

What's a good alternative to "on a personal capacity"?

Alternatives include "in my individual capacity", "as an individual", or "in a private capacity", depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to specify when I'm acting "on a personal capacity"?

It's beneficial to specify when your actions or opinions might be misinterpreted as representing an organization you are affiliated with. Clarity helps avoid confusion and potential conflicts of interest.

Which is more formal, "on a personal capacity" or "as an individual"?

"On a personal capacity" is generally considered more formal than "as an individual". The choice depends on the context and your desired level of formality.