personal desire

USAGE SUMMARY

"personal desire" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to an individual's wish or ambition, as in this example: "Sam's personal desire has always been to travel the world."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The next stage, personal desire, is achieved when the person decides that she wants to participate in the change.

Huffington Post

"My personal desire is to dismantle immediately," she said.

The New York Times

Envy is a signpost to personal desire that is thwarted.

The Guardian - Opinion

What animated Hunt was an almost naively simple belief in everyone's personal desire to be happy.

The Economist

My personal desire is that you paint the target directly on my back.

The New Yorker

Her actions indicate a passionate, personal desire, yet it is never expressed explicitly.

The New York Times - Books

"The potential for new audiences far outweighs the personal desire to have it close by".

The New York Times - Arts

That is, serving others may produce the same sort of pleasure as gratifying a personal desire.

The New York Times

And I'd never heard anything like Mick Jagger's cracking, sensual voice, singing about personal desire.

The New York Times

He added, "I had my own personal desire of being the first Jewish Speaker.

The New Yorker

He never defined it except in terms of his personal desire for a good relationship.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing motivation, clearly define whether the "personal desire" stems from internal drive or external influence. This adds precision to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "personal desire" when describing essential needs or requirements. "Personal desire" implies a want, not a must-have.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "personal desire" primarily functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It denotes an individual's strong wish, longing, or ambition. Ludwig confirms its proper usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "personal desire" is a commonly used and grammatically sound expression referring to an individual's strong wish or ambition. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate in various contexts, primarily appearing in News & Media and Academic sources. While alternatives like "individual aspiration" or "personal ambition" exist, "personal desire" effectively conveys internal motivation. When using the phrase, be mindful to distinguish it from necessity and to clarify whether the desire is internally or externally driven. In conclusion, mastering the usage of "personal desire" enhances the precision and clarity of your writing by conveying individual motivations and goals effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

personal ambition

Directly relates to individual goals and aspirations, maintaining a close semantic relationship with "personal desire".

personal aspiration

Similar to "individual aspiration" but underscores the individual's hopes and goals.

individual aspiration

Focuses on ambition and a strong hope for achievement, similar to a "personal desire" but emphasizes a long-term goal.

private ambition

Similar to "inner ambition" but emphasizes the personal and confidential nature of the ambition.

inner ambition

Highlights the internal drive and motivation, mirroring the intrinsic nature of a "personal desire".

intrinsic motivation

Highlights the inherent and internal drive, focusing on the psychological aspect of wanting something.

self-driven motivation

Underlines the independent and self-reliant aspect of the drive, reflecting a strong internal "personal desire".

private yearning

Emphasizes a deep longing or craving, suggesting a more emotional and intimate aspect of "personal desire".

individual longing

Stresses the yearning and craving that an individual feels, akin to a deep "personal desire".

internal craving

Focuses on the intense, internal feeling of wanting something, highlighting the craving aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "personal desire" in a sentence?

You can use "personal desire" to describe someone's strong wish or ambition. For example, "Her actions were driven by a strong personal desire to succeed".

What phrases can I use instead of "personal desire"?

Alternatives to "personal desire" include phrases like "individual aspiration", "personal ambition", or "inner ambition", depending on the specific context.

Is it more appropriate to use "personal desire" or "professional desire" in a career context?

In a career context, you can use both phrases. If you are talking about ambitions that are private and relate to your inner self, you can use "personal desire". Whereas, if you are referring to ambitions related to work and professional growth, you can use "professional desire".

What is the difference between "personal desire" and "personal intention"?

"Personal desire" refers to a strong wish or longing, while "personal intention" refers to a plan or aim. For example, one might have a "personal desire" to travel, but their "personal intention" might be to save money first.