Words / B1

PURS-uh-nl/ˈpɜːsənl/

Personal means about one person or private: personal information, a personal letter, personal space. Private is close; personnel (staff) is a spelling trap. Personality is character. Personally is the adverb: personally, I disagree. Personalise (UK) means make something individual. In emails, personal data is a common exam topic.

Meaning

Belonging to or about one person; private.

Examples

• “This is a personal letter.”
• “Do not share personal details on public sites.”
• “This is my personal opinion, not the school’s.”

Good to know

personal information / opinion / space. Trap spelling: personnel = staff. Adverb: personally.

Near in meaning

private

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