What is the Difference Between Personal and Personnel?

The main difference between "personal" and "personnel" lies in their meanings and usage. Here are the key distinctions:

• Personal:
• This term is an adjective that means "pertaining to an individual's private life".
• It is used to describe things that affect or relate to a person, such as "personal goals" or "personal financial gain".
• Examples include "She didn't want to talk about her personal problems" and "The rockstar had his own personal chef".
• Personnel:
• This term is a noun that refers to a collection of people, specifically a group of people associated with a business or organization.
• It is often found in business contexts and is used in contrast with "matériel" in French.
• Examples include "The company is undergoing some personnel changes" and "Human Resources manages all matters concerning personnel, from recruiting, to hiring, to overseeing benefits programs".

To remember the difference, keep in mind that "personnel" has two "ns," just as a company has to have at least two employees to have personnel.

Comparative Table: Personal vs Personnel

The difference between "personal" and "personnel" lies in their meanings and usage. Here is a table that highlights the distinctions between the two terms:

Some examples of using "personal" and "personnel" in sentences are:

• Personal: Mr. Parker's personal assets are donated to the trust after his demise.
• Personnel: It is the personnel of the company that makes it successful or unsuccessful.

Remember that "personal" is an adjective and is used to describe something private or individual, while "personnel" is a noun and refers to the staff or human resources of an organization or business.