private judgments

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "private judgments" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to personal opinions or assessments that are not shared publicly or are made in a personal context. Example: "In matters of personal belief, we often rely on our private judgments rather than public opinion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Public pronouncements crowd out private opinions, and the market ceases to function as a way of aggregating and revealing diverse, private judgments of the world.

The Economist

If, as is likely, he has harsher private judgments, he will save them for Sir Emyr Jones Parry, the British ambassador, who, calling from London on Thursday in behalf of Prime Minister Tony Blair, alerted him to the disclosure.

The New York Times

Do the other assumptions of Hobbes's philosophy license the existence of this imagined state of isolated individuals pursuing their private judgments?

SEP

Indeed, it is important to Hobbes to preserve this public sense of consciousness/conscience, since he viewed the private judgments of conscience to be "repugnant to civil society" (Leviathan 29.7).

SEP

Notice that all four theorists were aware of and concerned about the diversity of private judgments about justice and right action, which might systematically diverge for any number of reasons.

SEP

Absent their good-faith sacrifice of the liberty to act on their private judgments regarding what justice requires, the free-rider would likely be unable to act as he does (Wellman 2005, pp. 44 45).

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Some spoke of Protestantism as being devoted to the right of private judgment.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Several senior officers were (in the private judgment of Roosevelt's secretary of war) "essentially pro-German".

The Economist

"We're always judging, sitting in personal private judgment of the movies we see anyway... And, also, everyone sits in judgment on us.

The Guardian - Film

Long-term sleep deprivation, said Dr. Neil Kavey of NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia, impairs not just public performance but also private judgment and problem-solving ability.

The New York Times

"Montaigne is supposed to be the best proof of . . . the victory of private judgment over systems or schools of thought," Desan writes.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing individual autonomy or freedom of thought, using "private judgments" can emphasize the importance of independent reasoning and decision-making.

Common error

Avoid using "private judgments" to excuse discriminatory or biased viewpoints. Ensure that the judgments are based on reasoned consideration, not unfounded stereotypes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "private judgments" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It refers to personal evaluations, opinions, or conclusions that individuals hold internally and may or may not express publicly. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is used correctly in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

47%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "private judgments" is a valid and usable phrase referring to individual opinions or assessments. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across different contexts, particularly in science, news, and encyclopedias. While not extremely common, the phrase is valuable for discussions about individual autonomy, freedom of thought, and the formation of personal beliefs. It's important to ensure that "private judgments" are based on reasoned consideration rather than prejudice. Alternatives include "personal opinions", "individual assessments", and "subjective evaluations", offering writers flexibility in expressing similar concepts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

private opinions

Directly mirrors the original phrase, replacing 'judgments' with 'opinions'.

personal assessments

Focuses on the act of evaluating something personally.

individual opinions

Emphasizes the uniqueness of each person's viewpoint.

internal assessments

Highlights assessments conducted within oneself, rather than publicly.

subjective evaluations

Highlights the role of personal bias in the assessment.

personal interpretations

Focuses on how individuals understand or explain something based on their own perspective.

personal conclusions

Emphasizes the end result of a personal reasoning process.

internal evaluations

Implies evaluations that are conducted within oneself.

private convictions

Focuses on firm, privately held beliefs.

personal beliefs

Shifts the focus to deeply held convictions.

FAQs

How can I use "private judgments" in a sentence?

You might say, "In a free society, individuals are entitled to their "individual opinions" and "personal assessments", or "private judgments", on matters of importance."

What are some alternatives to "private judgments"?

Alternatives include "personal beliefs", "individual opinions", or "subjective evaluations", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to act solely based on "private judgments" in professional settings?

While having personal convictions is important, relying exclusively on "private judgments" without considering external data, expert advice, or ethical guidelines can lead to poor decisions in professional environments.

What's the difference between "private judgments" and "public opinion"?

"Private judgments" are individual assessments or beliefs, while public opinion represents the collective view of a community or society. "Private judgments" may or may not align with "public opinion".