personal matters

USAGE SUMMARY

"personal matters" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when discussing topics or issues that are of a confidential, sensitive, or intimate nature. For example, "We discussed a few personal matters before moving on to the next topic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Otherwise, personal matters seem secondary.

Independent

These are personal matters.

The Guardian

Other, personal matters awaited resolution outside basketball.

The New York Times - Sports

"Those are personal matters," Mr. Fox said.

The New York Times

Then the conversation shifted toward personal matters.

The New York Times

Personal matters, philosophical matters, spiritual matters".

The Guardian

You have urgent personal matters to address.

Harvard Business Review

Meanwhile, the site manager returned to France for personal matters.

The New York Times

" We talked about all kinds of things, personal matters.

Independent

Describes the problems with various caretakers and personal matters.

The New Yorker

They knew about love affairs and personal matters at work.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When addressing "personal matters" in writing, maintain a level of discretion and sensitivity appropriate to your audience and the context. Be mindful of confidentiality and avoid unnecessary details.

Common error

Avoid divulging overly specific or sensitive details when referring to "personal matters". Keep your statements general and respectful of privacy, unless explicit consent has been given to share more information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "personal matters" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It refers to issues, concerns, or business of a private nature. Ludwig AI confirms the correct usage of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "personal matters" is a commonly used noun phrase to describe issues or concerns of a private nature. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, primarily appearing in news, scientific, and business publications. When using this phrase, remember to be sensitive to the context and audience, avoiding unnecessary details to respect privacy. Alternative phrases like ""private affairs"" or ""confidential issues"" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

private affairs

Replaces "matters" with "affairs", emphasizing the private nature but keeps a general overview.

private concerns

Substitutes "matters" with "concerns", highlighting the worrying aspects.

confidential issues

Emphasizes the secrecy aspect by using "confidential" instead of "personal".

sensitive issues

Highlights the delicate nature of the topics discussed.

intimate details

Focuses on specific, private aspects rather than general concerns.

personal business

Uses a more direct and common term for everyday private affairs.

family affairs

Narrows the scope to issues concerning family only.

private lives

Broader term that refers to the entirety of someone's private existence.

personal challenges

Emphasizes difficulties someone is facing in their private life.

individual circumstances

Highlights specific situations unique to an individual.

FAQs

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

"Personal matters" is used to refer to private or sensitive issues. For example, "The meeting was adjourned so the director could attend to "personal matters"."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "personal matters"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases such as "private affairs", "confidential issues", or "sensitive issues" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to discuss "personal matters" in a professional setting?

Discussing "personal matters" in a professional setting should be approached with caution. It's generally acceptable if it affects work performance, but be mindful of oversharing. It might be useful to talk with "professional matters".

What's the difference between "personal matters" and "private affairs"?

While both refer to private aspects of life, "personal matters" is a broader term. "Private affairs" often suggests a higher level of sensitivity or secrecy but are quite interchangeable.