How to Choose the Right Word
The words “personal” and “personnel” are related in meaning, but they’re not identical. They also belong to different word classes and they’re pronounced differently. The adjective “personal” (with the stress on the first syllable) means private or individual. The noun “personnel” (stress on the last syllable) refers to the people employed by an organization, business, or service. Both words derive from the Latin word personalis, meaning of or related to a person.
How to Use “Personal”
The word “personal” is an adjective that has two different meanings: It may be used to describe a person’s unique preferences or qualities, as in “My ‘personal’ favorite musician is Bruce Springsteen” or “My ‘personal’ ability to play baseball is not very impressive.” It may also be used to refer to private experiences or items, as in “The police even went through his ‘personal’ correspondence” or “You have no business tampering with my