personal visit

USAGE SUMMARY

"personal visit" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are talking about someone visiting you or someone else in person, as opposed to visiting virtually or over the phone. For example, "I'd love to have you come and meet my family - why don't we arrange a personal visit sometime soon?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Examiners then make a personal visit.

The New York Times

Gomaa said it was a personal visit, arranged by Jordan.

The New York Times

It was just a personal visit to a cemetery.

The New York Times

Inmates are permitted one personal visit per week.

The Washington Post

NEVER APOLOGIZE A Personal Visit With Lindsay Anderson Opens on Friday in Manhattan.

The New York Times

Next came a personal visit from Cameron's most lofty emissary, the cabinet secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood.

The Guardian

"I haven't decided yet," she said after receiving a personal visit last Saturday from Mr. Weiner.

The New York Times

But he asked the Jets to arrange a personal visit with Sang.

The New York Times - Sports

Aug. 15-19 at 1 30 and 6 15: "Never Apologize: A Personal Visit with Lindsay Anderson" (2007, Mike Kaplan).

The New Yorker

Mr. Chernow also paid a personal visit to the tooth at the medical library where it is stored.

The New York Times - Books

Then he made a personal visit to London to appeal to expatriate Jews to return to Bahrain.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "personal visit" to emphasize the physical presence and direct interaction, especially when contrasting with remote communication methods.

Common error

Avoid using "personal visit" in highly formal or official documents where a more precise term like "in-person meeting" or "site visit" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "personal visit" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It describes an instance of someone going to see another person in person. As supported by Ludwig, the phrase is correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Science

21%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Academia

3%

HuffPost

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "personal visit" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe an in-person encounter. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across diverse contexts, particularly in news, media, and scientific writing. While generally neutral in tone, it's essential to consider the formality of the situation. In highly formal settings, alternatives like "in-person meeting" or "site visit" might be more appropriate. The phrase serves to highlight the directness and importance of face-to-face interactions. Remember to be mindful of the subtle differences between related terms such as "social call" or "courtesy visit" to ensure you're conveying the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in-person meeting

Replaces "visit" with "meeting", emphasizing the formal or structured nature of the encounter.

face-to-face encounter

Highlights the direct and immediate nature of the meeting, focusing on the visual aspect.

house call

Specifically refers to a visit made to someone's home, typically by a professional.

private audience

Emphasizes the exclusivity and often formal nature of the visit, suggesting a special arrangement.

direct contact

Broadly refers to any form of direct interaction, but can imply a personal visit in many contexts.

personal call

Similar to personal visit but might be confused with telephone call. Therefore the similarity is lower.

social call

Highlights the social aspect of the visit, suggesting it's for leisure or friendly interaction.

courtesy visit

Indicates a visit made out of politeness or respect, often to someone in a position of authority.

meet-and-greet

Refers to a casual and often brief encounter, typically with a celebrity or public figure.

one-on-one meeting

Focuses on the individual attention and interaction during the visit.

FAQs

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

"Personal visit" is used to describe an in-person meeting. For example, "The manager scheduled a "personal visit" to the client's office to discuss the contract."

What are some alternatives to "personal visit"?

Alternatives include "in-person meeting", "face-to-face encounter", or "site visit", depending on the context.

Is "personal visit" formal or informal?

"Personal visit" is generally neutral but can lean towards informal. In formal settings, consider using phrases like "formal meeting" or "official visit".

What's the difference between "personal visit" and "social call"?

A "personal visit" can be for any purpose, while a "social call" specifically implies a visit for social or leisure reasons.