Personal Details

Illustration of Personal Details
Words to talk about Personal Details in business contexts.

Personal Details - Exercise

This exercise focuses on vocabulary about Personal Details

 

Basic Contact Information

Address

  • Definition: The specific location where a person lives or works.

  • Example: “My address is 123 Maple Street.”

Tips:

  • Start with the building number, followed by the street name, city, and postal code.

  • In English-speaking countries, addresses are written in a specific order, usually from smallest (house number) to largest (city or country).

Common Mistakes:

  • Incorrect order: Avoid reversing the order, such as writing the city before the street.

  • Missing post code: Always include the postal code for accuracy.

FAQ:

Do I need to include the country in my address?

Yes, when sharing your address internationally, include your country.

Email Address

  • Definition: An online address used for electronic communication.

  • Example: “My email address is john.doe@example.com.”

Tips:

  • Use "dot" for the period (.) and "at" for the @ symbol when reading it out loud.

  • In emails, letters are usually lowercase.

Common Mistakes:

  • Mixing uppercase and lowercase: Emails are not case-sensitive, but they are typically written in lowercase.

  • Confusing “dot” and “at”: When sharing your email, be clear and say "dot" for (.) and "at" for (@).

FAQ:

How do I pronounce symbols in my email address?

Use “dot” for periods (.), “at” for @, and “hyphen” for dashes (-).

Emergency Contact Number

  • Definition: A phone number used to reach someone in case of an emergency.

  • Example: “My emergency contact is my brother, at 555-6789.”

Tips:

  • Choose someone close to you, like a family member or close friend.

  • Many workplaces require this number on forms.

Common Mistakes:

  • Forgetting to update: Make sure your emergency contact information is current.

  • Providing only a name: Remember to give both a name and a contact number.

FAQ:

Why is an emergency contact number needed?

It’s important in case of accidents or emergencies, so that someone can reach your family or friend.

Personal Information

First Name

  • Definition: The name given to a person at birth, often used by friends and family.

  • Example: "My first name is Maria."

Tips:

  • In formal settings, use your full name (first name + surname).

  • Your first name is also called your “given name.”

Common Mistakes:

  • Using only a nickname: For official forms, use your full first name, not a nickname.

  • Confusing first name and surname: Remember, the first name comes before the surname.

FAQ:

Should I write my nickname or my full first name?

Write your full first name on official documents, not a nickname.

Surname

  • Definition: The family name or last name.

  • Example: "My surname is Smith."

Tips:

  • Use your surname after your first name when giving your full name (e.g., “Maria Smith”).

  • In formal situations, refer to others by their surname with a title, like “Mr. Smith.”

Common Mistakes:

  • Not using a title: In business settings, it’s polite to use a title with the surname.

  • Mixing up surname and first name order: Ensure you don’t confuse the order (e.g., “Maria Smith” instead of “Smith Maria”).

FAQ:

What is the difference between surname and family name?

They mean the same thing; “surname” is often used in formal or official contexts.

Title

  • Definition: A prefix used before a name to show respect or social position, such as Mr., Ms., Mrs., or Dr.

  • Example: “Mr. John Doe” or “Dr. Sarah Lee.”

Tips:

  • Mr. is for men, Ms. or Mrs. for women (depending on marital status), and Dr. for those with a doctorate.

Common Mistakes:

  • Incorrectly using Mrs./Ms.: Use "Mrs." for married women, "Ms." if unsure.

  • Missing title: Titles are common in formal business interactions, so don’t skip them.

FAQ:

How do I know which title to use?

Use "Mr." for men, "Mrs." for married women, "Ms." for women if you’re unsure, and "Dr." for those with a doctorate.

Phone and Address Details

Mobile Number

  • Definition: A personal cell phone number.

  • Example: "My mobile number is 555-1234."

Tips:

  • When sharing a number internationally, include your country code (e.g., +1 for the USA).

Common Mistakes:

  • Using home number as mobile: Be sure to differentiate between home and mobile numbers on forms.

  • Leaving out the area code: When sharing a mobile number, include the area code.

FAQ:

How do I format my mobile number internationally?

Use “+” followed by the country code (e.g., +44 for the UK) before the local number.

Home Address

  • Definition: The address where someone lives.

  • Example: “My home address is 78 Elm Street.”

Tips:

  • Keep your home address separate from your work address in professional forms.

Common Mistakes:

  • Not including apartment number: If you live in an apartment, add the unit number to avoid confusion.

  • Writing a work address as home: Only put your home address here, not a work or temporary address.

FAQ:

Should I include my home address on my business card?

No, only add your business address if needed.

Post Code

  • Definition: A set of letters or numbers for identifying areas for mail delivery.

  • Example: “The post code for my area is 90210.”

Tips:

Double-check your post code for accuracy, as it helps in mail delivery.

Common Mistakes:

  • Using the wrong code: Be sure to check your correct postal code when filling in addresses.

  • Writing “zip code” in the UK: Use “post code” in the UK and “zip code” in the USA.

FAQ:

What’s the difference between post code and zip code?

“Post code” is used in the UK, while “zip code” is used in the USA.

Name Formatting and Symbols

Dot (.)

  • Definition: A small punctuation mark often used in emails and web addresses.

  • Example: "In ‘jane.doe@example.com,’ there is a dot between ‘jane’ and ‘doe.’"

Tips:

When giving an email address, say “dot” for (.) to avoid confusion.

Common Mistakes:

Using “point” instead of “dot”: “Dot” is correct for emails.

FAQ:

What’s the purpose of a dot in emails?

It helps separate words or sections in the address.

Hyphen (-)

  • Definition: A short dash connecting two words or numbers.

  • Example: “Mother-in-law” or “555-6789.”

Tips:

Use hyphens in double-barreled names (e.g., “Smith-Jones”) or phone numbers.

Common Mistakes:

Using underscores instead: For names, use hyphens, not underscores.

FAQ:

Can I use a hyphen in my email address?

Yes, but only where allowed by the email provider.

Lower Case

  • Definition: Small letters, not capitalized.

  • Example: “My email should be in lower case: john.doe.”

Tips:

Always write email addresses and website addresses in lowercase unless required.

Common Mistakes:

Using uppercase letters in emails: This isn’t necessary and can cause confusion.

FAQ:

Why are email addresses in lowercase?

To make them easy to read and prevent case sensitivity issues.

Follow us
Free grammar and vocabulary exercises, ESL worksheets, lesson plans, tests and tools for students and teachers
@ 2024 PushtoLearn