personal discretion

USAGE SUMMARY

"personal discretion" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is an idiomatic phrase meaning "having the freedom or the authority to choose or decide on something personally". For example, "At the manager's discretion, he decided to give the employees an extra day off."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

Her personal discretion has been phenomenal.

The Guardian - Opinion

"They don't have as much personal discretion as you might think," he said.

The New Yorker

Every task needs to have an element of personal discretion, it's fundamental to job satisfaction".

The Guardian - Money

"The intensity of their indoctrination was remarkable, how they willingly surrendered personal discretion to gain collective power," Professor Apter said in an interview in April.

The New York Times

With sweeping personal discretion to deport illegal immigrants, I.N.S. inspectors have mistreated or turned away legal visitors as well as victims of torture who had credible claims for political asylum, the report concluded.

The New York Times

Mr. Herzog, who told the comptroller he had personal discretion to disburse the money according to general instructions, directed about $105,000 from the Camilla Fund to the campaign, the report said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

But his language — especially when viewed through the history of his personal discretions; that is not easily avoided — talks about her appearance and his motives to gain access to her.

Huffington Post

"He was exercising personal, moral discretion," Professor Hazard said.

The New York Times

His new album, "FREEMAN," is a further declaration of his liberation, full of original material that ranges from the intensely personal ("Covert Discretion," a bleak but ultimately hopeful recounting of the life of a touring musician) to the blackly comic ("Golden Monkey," which seems to come from an older and wiser Ween).

The New Yorker

In this way, one will build up a repertoire of conduct that reflects one's personal ethical discernment and discretion, which expresses one's personal ethical attainment and style.

SEP

He pointed to his previous experience as a high school coach and teacher, a job that, despite his being out, he believed demanded a bit of personal and professional discretion.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "personal discretion" when emphasizing the individual's right or ability to make choices based on their own judgment and understanding of the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "personal discretion" to justify actions that violate established rules or ethical standards. It should be used within appropriate boundaries and not as a means to bypass necessary protocols.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "personal discretion" functions as a noun phrase, often acting as the object of a verb or the subject of a clause. As Ludwig highlights, it signifies the freedom and authority to make decisions based on individual judgment.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Wiki

28%

Science

24%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "personal discretion" is a common noun phrase signifying the freedom and authority to make decisions based on individual judgment. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a grammatically correct and usable phrase. Usage analysis reveals its prevalence across diverse contexts, including news media, wiki articles, and scientific publications. The phrase is most frequently encountered in news and media sources, emphasizing its relevance in describing real-world scenarios where individuals exercise their autonomy. Related phrases, such as "individual judgment" and "own volition", offer semantically similar alternatives for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

individual judgment

Focuses on the act of judging rather than the freedom to decide.

independent decision-making

Highlights the aspect of making decisions without external influence.

autonomous action

Emphasizes acting independently and without external control.

own volition

Emphasizes the willingness and freedom to act independently.

personal prerogative

Indicates a right or privilege to decide.

personal choice

Stresses the element of selection and preference.

latitude of decision

Focuses on the range of available choices.

self-determination

Implies a broader sense of control over one's life and actions.

self-governance

Suggests controlling one's own actions and affairs.

free will

Highlights the philosophical concept of having the power of choice.

FAQs

What does "personal discretion" mean?

It refers to the freedom and authority an individual has to make choices or decisions based on their own judgment and understanding of a situation.

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

Example: "The manager exercised their "personal discretion" to approve the employee's request for time off."

What are some alternatives to "personal discretion"?

You can use alternatives like "individual judgment", "own volition", or "independent decision-making" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "personal discretion" and "professional discretion"?

"Personal discretion" relates to choices made in one's personal capacity, while "professional discretion" concerns decisions made within the scope of one's professional role and responsibilities.