personal labour

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "personal labour" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to work or effort that is done by an individual, often emphasizing the personal involvement in the task. Example: "The success of the project was largely due to the personal labour invested by each team member."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Affordable, wearable internet devices and the "internet of things", including devices such as Google Glass, bio-monitors in shoes or clothing, and connected household goods, have the potential to enable councils, traditionally heavily reliant on personal labour, to provide more services remotely.

The Guardian

If "Urban Goals" is an inner-city odyssey and a personal labour of love, then, it is also a tribute to communities and neighbourhoods which have been neglected by government.

Vice

Registers on personal labour market affiliation 26: Labour market affiliation, sick leave, early retirement pension.

BMJ Open

However, SII covers only those in dependent employment or those who offer full-time or part-time personal labour on commissioned work agreements and are not insured with any other insurance agency (i.e. about 50% of the Greek population) [ 7].

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Our research focuses on equivalised disposable household income weighted (EDHIW) and personal income labour weighted (PILW).

The Guardian

The debate in parliament got increasingly personal, with Labour's Tom Harris accusing Ipsa of offering to brief journalists against members.

The Guardian

Personal histories, labour relations and the incidence of workplace violence all help to fill out an executive's overall risk profile.Meanwhile, other sorts of lower-ranking employees may be running considerable risks without the cover of adequate corporate protection.

The Economist

Earlier this month the Saudi government announced a major judicial "overhaul", promising a new supreme court, more appeals courts, and specialised courts for commercial, personal status, labour and traffic disputes.

The Guardian - Opinion

For all the chorus of sceptics and Miliband's dire personal polling, Labour could clearly still be propelled into government next year on the back of falling living standards and revulsion at Cameron's Tories.

The Guardian - Opinion

Because no effective treatment for FMS control is currently available, its personal, familial, labour-related and social impacts are very negative, usually leading to excessive use of healthcare services [ 6, 33, 34].

Arthritis Research and Therapy

"Ed Miliband's initial response to the criticism of his father was instinctive and highly personal," noted the Labour blogger Dan Hodges.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When emphasizing the direct and personal involvement of an individual in a task, use "personal labour" to highlight the human element. For example, "The project's success was attributed to the team's collective personal labour".

Common error

Be mindful of using "personal labour" when the context already implies individual effort. Instead of saying "It was his personal personal labour", simply state "It was his personal endeavour".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "personal labour" functions primarily as a noun phrase, referring to work or effort that is directly undertaken by an individual. As seen in the Ludwig examples, it often appears in contexts where the individual's contribution is being emphasized.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "personal labour" is a grammatically correct noun phrase referring to the direct effort exerted by an individual. Ludwig's analysis, as well as the limited examples found, indicates that it is a relatively uncommon phrase, primarily used in News & Media and Scientific contexts. When choosing to use this phrase, consider its alternatives such as "individual effort" or "own work" to determine which best suits the intended emphasis. Overall, while correct, "personal labour" should be used judiciously to ensure clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

individual effort

Focuses on the effort exerted by a single person.

personal exertion

Emphasizes the physical or mental effort made.

own work

Highlights the ownership and responsibility for the work.

self-employment

Indicates working for oneself, not as an employee.

private enterprise

Focuses on an individual's business or undertaking.

independent practice

Refers to professional work done autonomously.

solo performance

Highlights a single person's contribution to a task.

hands-on involvement

Stresses direct and active participation.

do-it-yourself approach

Suggests a self-reliant and resourceful method.

own initiative

Emphasizes the self-starting and proactive nature of the work.

FAQs

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

You can use "personal labour" to emphasize the direct involvement and effort of an individual in a task. For example: "The success of the project was largely due to the team's collective personal labour."

What are some alternatives to "personal labour"?

You can use alternatives such as "individual effort", "personal exertion", or "own work" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is "personal labour" the same as "personal labor"?

Yes, "personal labour" and "personal labor" are essentially the same phrase. The former is the British English spelling, while the latter is the American English spelling. Both refer to work or effort done by an individual.

When is it appropriate to use "personal labour" instead of a simpler term like "work"?

"Personal labour" is best used when you want to specifically highlight the direct and invested effort of an individual, particularly when that effort goes beyond mere routine or duty. It emphasizes the human element of the work.