personal acquisition

USAGE SUMMARY

"personal acquisition" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to refer to the process of gaining or acquiring something for oneself, often through hard work or dedication. For example, "He was able to achieve his success through personal acquisition of knowledge and skills."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Glavine was the owner Fred Wilpon's personal acquisition project during the off-season.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. de Pury, whose interest in personal acquisition is modest when set against the lavish art and artifacts he traffics in, is circumspect when it comes to raising his own paddle.

The New York Times - Style

They also serve as the basis for our own personal acquisition of its wisdom.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Unfortunately, New Age thinking that promoted becoming a cause by intending a laundry list of personal acquisitions made this sixth axiom popular.

Huffington Post

Personal acquisitions erred towards Austro-Bavarian painters such as Carl Spitzweg and Eduard Grutzner, as well as Romantic painters such as Caspar David Friedrich and Swiss landscape painters, particularly Arnold Bocklin; "Isle of the Dead" was his favorite painting.

Huffington Post

A spokeswoman for the foundation said she doesn't normally comment on Allen's personal acquisitions, but added that "we can confirm he doesn't own that piece of art".

Los Angeles Times

About a woman who protests that her husband wants her to quit her job: "This mentality is the ugly part of the feminist movement, which supports personal success, acquisition, accomplishment, power and the feminist political agenda over love, marriage and family".

The New York Times - Books

In other words, the acquisition of a good reputation brings about true personal accomplishment.

Huffington Post

Clouddog clouddog offers young people in inner London an intensive 12 month programme of personal development, skills acquisition and activity in environmental and conservation issues.

The Guardian

A personal computer data acquisition and differential global positioning system (DGPS) on-board tractor were used to assist in real-time measuring, displaying, and recording the tractor position, soil penetration resistance, and soil shear stress during the field sampling operation.

Biosystems Engineering

That is, teachers working towards a shared goal appear to have better interpersonal communication but not necessarily greater personal reflection, independent acquisition of knowledge from external sources or modification of current teaching methods.

Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the development of skills or knowledge, use "personal acquisition" to emphasize the individual's role in actively gaining those attributes.

Common error

Avoid using "personal acquisition" when you intend to criticize excessive consumption or materialism. Instead, use it to describe the legitimate and positive process of gaining skills, knowledge, or experiences that benefit an individual.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "personal acquisition" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It typically acts as a subject or object in a sentence, referring to the act or process of gaining something for oneself. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it correctly identifies and affirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

10%

Academia

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "personal acquisition" is a grammatically correct noun phrase denoting the act of gaining something for oneself, often through effort or dedication. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides examples of its use. Although relatively rare, it finds relevance across news, science, and encyclopedic contexts. Alternatives include "individual achievement" or "self-procurement", offering nuanced variations. When using this phrase, remember to emphasize the active role of the individual and avoid confusing it with mere materialism. The phrase carries a neutral to professional register, fitting well in discussions about skill development, knowledge attainment, and personal growth.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

self-procurement

Emphasizes the act of obtaining something for oneself.

private attainment

Highlights the personal nature of the achievement.

independent procurement

Highlights the autonomous nature of the acquisition process.

individual achievement

Focuses on the accomplishment aspect rather than the obtaining aspect.

sole acquisition

Emphasizes that acquisition is done by only one person or for only one person.

personal gain

Focuses on the benefit received from the acquisition.

personal enrichment

Suggests a broadening or deepening of one's own knowledge or experience.

self-advancement

Highlights the positive personal consequences of gaining something.

self-directed learning

Specific to the acquisition of knowledge through one's own efforts.

personal development

Focuses on the growth and improvement of oneself.

FAQs

How can "personal acquisition" be used in a sentence?

You can use "personal acquisition" to describe the process of gaining skills, knowledge, or possessions through one's own efforts. For example, "Her success was largely due to her relentless /s/personal+acquisition of new skills."

What are some alternatives to "personal acquisition"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "/s/individual+achievement", "/s/self-procurement", or "/s/private+attainment" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "personal acquisition" the same as "materialism"?

No, "personal acquisition" refers to the general act of gaining something, while materialism specifically refers to the excessive desire for possessions. The former is a broader concept and doesn't necessarily imply a negative connotation like materialism does.

In what contexts is "personal acquisition" most appropriately used?

"Personal acquisition" is suitable in contexts discussing skill development, knowledge attainment, and the gaining of experiences that contribute to personal growth. It is particularly relevant when highlighting the individual's active role in the process.