personal liking

USAGE SUMMARY

"personal liking" is a perfectly acceptable phrase to use in written English.
For example, "Despite my personal liking for the color green, I decided to choose blue for the walls of my bedroom."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

"This is not a matter of personal liking," he said.

The New York Times

McKaiser's fastidious respondents, who consider a white racist's bathroom preferences no more than a matter of personal liking and etiquette, are therefore enacting a form of memory as buried as it is historically precise.

The Guardian

A good relationship with a minister, special adviser or other officials is based primarily on trust, rather than necessarily on personal liking, and effort must be devoted to winning and maintaining that trust (Jary, 2015).

Nature

Nationalism had already begun to raise its head in Russia before the end of Alexander II's reign, but his strong-minded successor, Alexander III, who had a personal liking for Finland, was able to resist the demands of the Russian nationalists for the abolition of Finnish autonomy and the absorption of the Finns into the Russian nation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Using materials that children naturally group into categories (Study 3), the continuum framing prevented the signature pattern of categorization for similarity judgments (Study 1), inferences about behavior and deservingness (Studies 2 and 5), personal liking and play preferences (Study 4), and stable and internal attributions for behavior (Study 6).

Stanford University

A journalist covering the Lincoln-Douglas debates commented that "I could not take a real personal liking to the man, owing to an inborn weakness for which he was even then notorious and so remained during his great public career, he was inordinately fond of jokes, anecdotes, and stories".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Sometimes there were a few questions that were very personal, like about your sexual history, that a person doesn't like sharing the first visit.' (W18).

BMC Women's Health

Personal likes and dislikes come into play.

Independent

"Ain't nothing personal, like I said that day.

The New York Times - Sports

"It felt personal, like there was a friend hurting".

The New York Times

Other gifts are more personal, like this CD.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms like "personal preference" or "individual taste" to avoid repetition and add nuance to your writing.

Common error

Avoid assuming that your "personal liking" is shared by everyone. Qualify your statements to indicate that it's a subjective opinion, not an objective fact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "personal liking" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It denotes a subjective feeling of preference or fondness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

20%

Science

13%

Less common in

Academia

13%

Encyclopedias

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "personal liking" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express individual preference. According to Ludwig AI, it's perfectly acceptable in written English. While common in news, media, and informal contexts, it may require careful consideration in formal writing. Remember to use synonyms to enhance variety and avoid assuming universal agreement with your "personal liking". By understanding its usage and potential alternatives, you can effectively communicate your subjective viewpoints.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

personal preference

Emphasizes individual choice or inclination.

individual taste

Highlights subjective appreciation or judgment.

personal fondness

Implies affection or warmth in one's preference.

subjective preference

Focuses on the personal and biased nature of the liking.

personal inclination

Indicates a tendency or leaning toward something.

individual bent

Suggests a natural talent or leaning towards something.

personal appreciation

Highlights the act of valuing or recognizing the worth of something.

personal affinity

Suggests a natural liking or attraction to something.

personal predilection

Highlights a strong liking or preference.

individual partiality

Emphasizes bias or favoritism in one's liking.

FAQs

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

You can use "personal liking" to express your individual preference. For example, "My "personal liking" for jazz music influences my radio station choices."

What's a good alternative to "personal liking"?

Alternatives include "personal preference", "individual taste", or "personal fondness", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "personal personal liking"?

Yes, using "personal" twice is generally redundant. Stick to simply "personal liking" for clarity.

When is it appropriate to use "personal liking" in formal writing?

While generally suitable, in highly formal contexts consider alternatives like "preference" or "inclination". If you need to use it, make sure it is suitable for a neutral register, it can be useful if compared against something else, for example in sentences like "A good relationship with a minister, special adviser or other officials is based primarily on trust, rather than necessarily on "personal liking"".