Look-alike words
Personal vs. Personnel
Personal is an adjective meaning private or belonging to one person. Personnel is a noun for the people who work for an organization, or the department that handles staff. Personnel may ask for your personal details.
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| personal | adjective | belonging to or concerning one particular person; private |
| personnel | noun | the people employed by a company, school, army or other organization |
| noun | the department that hires and manages staff, now often called human resources |
Personal
adjective: belonging to or concerning one particular person; private
- Please don't read my personal messages.
- Sam keeps a personal budget in a small notebook.
Personnel
noun: the people employed by a company, school, army or other organization
- Only authorized personnel may enter the kitchen.
- The hospital hired more medical personnel for the winter.
noun: the department that hires and manages staff, now often called human resources
- Talk to personnel if you have questions about vacation days.
- She worked in personnel before becoming a store manager.
How to remember the difference
Personnel has extra letters because it means many people. Personal is about just one person.
Good to know
Personnel usually takes a plural verb in American English: the personnel are trained. Pronunciation helps too: PER-suh-nul for personal, per-suh-NEL for personnel.
Spot the mistake
Authorized
personalpersonnel only beyond this door.Correct: Authorized personnel only beyond this door.
I'd rather not share
personnelpersonal details at work.Correct: I'd rather not share personal details at work.
Check yourself
Pick the word that fits each sentence.
1. Please keep your belongings in the locker.
Answer: personal. The belongings are private and yours, so the adjective personal fits.
2. All emergency must wear a badge.
Answer: personnel. This means the staff who work in emergencies, so the noun personnel fits.