Difference Between Personal & Personnel

Personal vs Personnel

Understanding the difference between the words personal and personnel is essential, as they sound similar but have different meanings. Non-native English speakers may struggle with these words, as both pertain to people or individuals. This article aims to clarify the meanings of personal and personnel, their correct usage, and their respective definitions.

Key Takeaways

• Personal is an adjective meaning private or one’s own, while personnel is a noun referring to a group of people working in an organization.
• Personal relates to a single person, whereas personnel relates to a group of people.
• Personnel is a plural noun, while personal is generally considered an adjective, though it can be used as a noun in the form of “personals” (mainly in North America).

What do Personnel mean?

Personnel is a word that refers to people who work in an organization. According to the Oxford English dictionary, personnel is defined as “people employed in an organization or engaged in an organized undertaking such as military service.” The dictionary identifies personnel as a plural noun. For example, a personnel manager oversees personnel policies in an organization. If you are in a factory searching for products to sell in your retail shop, the factory manager may say that their personnel will help you find matching products. In this case, the word personnel refers to the employees working in the factory. Thus, personnel relates to a group of people, and the word is a noun.

What does Personal mean?

Personal is a word that means private or one’s own. When you talk about personal belongings, personal matters, or personal baggage, you are referring to items or issues that belong to you. Unlike personnel, which relates to a group of people, personal relates to a single person. Another distinction between personal and personnel is that while personnel is a noun, personal is an adjective. Therefore, it would be correct to say “personnel training” and “personal belongings.” However, personal can also be used as a noun in the form of “personals” (primarily in North America), which means “an advertisement or message in the personal column of a newspaper.” For example, “They have been communicating through personals advertisements for the past two years.”

What is the difference between Personal and Personnel?

• Personal is an adjective meaning private or one’s own, whereas personnel is a noun referring to a group of people working in an organization.
• When sharing your opinion, you would say that it is your personal opinion, while when talking about employees of an organization, you would discuss the personnel of the company.
• Personal relates to a single person, whereas personnel relates to a group of people.
• Personal is used as a noun in the form personals.
• Personnel is a plural noun.