Personal vs. Personnel
| Word | Sentences |
|---|---|
| personal | She keeps her personal life separate from work. |
| personnel | All personnel must attend the safety briefing. |
‘Personal’ and ‘personnel’ are easily confused in English writing. Personal refers to things relating to a person or an individual’s private matters. Personnel refers to the people who work for an organization (staff, employees). Though similar in spelling, their meanings are distinct and should not be interchanged.
What do “personal” and “personnel” mean?
Personal is an adjective meaning “relating to or belonging to a particular person; private; individual.” Examples: personal belongings, personal opinion, personal information.
Personnel is a noun referring to “the people employed in an organization or engaged in an organized undertaking, such as military service.” Examples: military personnel, hospital personnel, office personnel.
| Sentence with ‘personal’ | Sentence with ‘personnel’ |
| He shared a personal story at the meeting. | The personnel at the hospital were well-trained. |
| I need to take a personal day off work. | All company personnel must wear badges. |
| Her personal information is kept confidential. | Security personnel checked everyone’s ID. |
| It’s a personal choice. | The manager addressed all personnel in the briefing. |
Usage in context
| Word | Example Sentences |
|---|---|
| personal |
He asked a personal question during the interview.
Please do not use your personal email for work matters. She keeps her personal and professional lives separate. |
| personnel |
The company hired new personnel for the summer project.
The personnel department handles employee benefits. All personnel must follow the safety protocols. |
To remember the difference: personal relates to you as a person; personnel means employees or staff. Personnel = People at work!
Similar words
| Word | Similar words |
|---|---|
| personal | individual, private, intimate, subjective, own |
| personnel | staff, employees, workforce, crew, team, group |
The origin of personal & personnel
| Word | Etymology |
|---|---|
| personal | From Middle English personale, from Old French personel, from Latin personalis (“pertaining to a person”), from persona (“person”). |
| personnel | From French personnel (“staff, employees”), from Medieval Latin personale (“group of people”), from persona (“person”). First used in English in the 19th century. |
In review: Personal vs. Personnel
- Personal refers to something private, individual, or related to a person (e.g., personal opinion, personal information).
- Personnel refers to staff, employees, or people working in an organization (e.g., military personnel, office personnel).
Read about other confusing words
Practice: Personal or Personnel?
All company ______ must follow the new guidelines.
She took a ______ day to deal with family matters.
The manager addressed all ______ in the meeting.
Please keep your ______ items out of the shared workspace.
All ______ must have their ID badges visible at all times.
FAQs
What does ‘personal’ mean?
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What does ‘personnel’ mean?
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How do I remember the difference?
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Can ‘personnel’ ever mean ‘private’?
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Can ‘personal’ refer to a group of people?
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Sources
Yash, D. "How to Use Personal vs. Personnel (Word Choice)." Grammarflex, Aug 30, 2025, https://grammarflex.com/personal-vs-personnel/.
