Words / B2

purs-uh-NEL/ˌpɜːsəˈnel/

Personnel means the people who work for an organisation: military personnel, personnel files, personnel department (older name for HR). Staff is everyday; employees is a close twin; personnel is uncountable. In speech, staff is enough. Do not write “a personnel” for one worker, and do not confuse it with personal (private) — a high-frequency spelling trap.

Meaning

The people who work for an organisation (uncountable).

Examples

• “Military personnel were sent to help with the floods.”
• “Medical personnel were flown in after the quake.”
• “Personnel records are locked; that is not the same as a personal diary.”

Good to know

Uncountable: personnel = staff. Everyday: staff. Older office name: personnel department (now often HR). Mix-up: personal. Not “a personnel”.

Near in meaning

staff

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