personalisation
personalisation — noun
1. the practice of adding a name, initials, logo, or another detail to an item so t
the practice of adding a name, initials, logo, or another detail to an item so that it clearly belongs to a particular owner
Yumi ordered a school bag with her name on it through the store's personalisation service.
personalisation + 'with' + personal mark
Personalisation of phone cases with family photos has become very popular among teenagers.
personalisation + of + noun phrase
The shop offers free personalisation, so João had his initials printed on the wallet.
Many parents choose personalisation for their children's water bottles to prevent mix-ups at school.
- customisation
broader term — can refer to any modification; personalisation specifically adds identifying marks
文法句型
personalisation + of + noun phrase (the item being marked)
用法筆記
This sense is most common in retail and e-commerce contexts, where stores offer to print or engrave a customer's name or initials on a product.
常見錯誤
2. the process of designing or adapting a product, service, or experience to fit on
the process of designing or adapting a product, service, or experience to fit one specific person's particular needs and preferences
The hotel's personalisation service remembered that Eve prefers a firm pillow and a quiet room.
personalisation service + that-clause describing remembered preferences
Ravindra appreciated the personalisation of his fitness app, which adjusted the exercises to his level.
personalisation + of + noun phrase for digital product
Personalisation of learning materials helps students who need extra support with reading and maths.
Allison chose a bank that offers personalisation of its mobile app for easier everyday use.
- tailoring
very close in meaning; often used interchangeably, though tailoring can sound more manual or artisanal
- customisation
broader term; personalisation emphasises meeting the individual's needs, while customisation can be any modification
- standardisation
the practice of making everything the same for everyone, the opposite of adapting to each person
文法句型
personalisation + of + noun phrase (the product, service, or content being adapted)
用法筆記
Frequently used in marketing, education, healthcare, and software contexts. Unlike sense 1, this does not require adding visible marks — it is about adapting features or content to suit an individual.
常見錯誤
3. the way websites, apps, and search engines use information about a person's past
the way websites, apps, and search engines use information about a person's past activity to decide which content, advertisements, or suggestions to show them
Search engines use personalisation to show results that match what a user has viewed before.
use + personalisation + to-infinitive of purpose
Yael turned off personalisation in her browser because she wanted to see different viewpoints.
personalisation + 'in' + [software]
The personalisation of news feeds means Emre sees more articles about technology and design.
Some experts worry that personalisation on social media limits the range of information people receive.
- customisation
in tech contexts, used similarly but personalisation is typically automatic (algorithm-driven) while customisation is user-controlled
文法句型
personalisation + of + noun phrase (content type)
personalisation + on + [platform or medium]
用法筆記
Very common in discussions about internet privacy, algorithms, and user experience. Often paired with words like 'algorithmic', 'data-driven', or 'user'.
常見錯誤
4. a way of arguing where a person attacks an opponent's character or personal life
a way of arguing where a person attacks an opponent's character or personal life rather than addressing the points they have made
The discussion became unproductive when personalisation replaced honest debate about the issues.
personalisation replaces debate: noun as subject of change-of-state
Jude told his team to avoid personalisation and focus on the work, not the person.
avoid + personalisation
Personalisation in workplace meetings can make staff feel attacked and less willing to contribute.
Layla told the team that personalisation was unfair and asked them to discuss facts.
- ad hominem
more formal Latin term used in logic and rhetoric; personalisation is the everyday English noun for the same concept
- constructive criticism
feedback focused on the work or ideas, not the person
文法句型
personalisation + in + [setting]
accusations / claims of + personalisation
用法筆記
This sense is formal and appears mainly in written discourse about debate etiquette, business communication, or politics. It is similar in meaning to 'ad hominem attack' but less technical.