Particular (adjective): relating to or singling out one specific person, thing, or situation from others; especially great or notable; fussy and exacting about details.
Particular (noun, usually plural — particulars): specific details or facts about a person or situation.
What Does Particular Mean?
Particular comes from Latin particularis (relating to a single part), a derivative of particula (a small part), itself a diminutive of pars (part). The word entered English in the 15th century via Old French particulier. The same Latin root gives us particle, partial, partition, and the suffix -icular seen in words such as vehicular and spectacular.
In modern British English, particular is one of the most versatile adjectives in the language. Its core meaning — singling out one item from a group — connects all three senses. When you say "this particular exercise", you are highlighting that exercise above all others. When you say someone is "particular about their tea", you mean they notice every tiny detail about how it is made.
The phrase in particular functions as an adverbial and means "especially" or "more than anything else". It is extremely common in academic writing and formal speech. The noun particulars is used in legal, official, and formal contexts to mean "specific details": Please fill in your personal particulars.
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Level / Usage note |
|---|---|
| I like this particular colour for my bedroom. | A2 — singling out one specific thing |
| Pay particular attention to the word order in indirect questions. | B1 — meaning "especially great"; set phrase |
| She is very particular about the way she organises her notes. | B1 — meaning fussy or exacting |
| I enjoyed the course, the grammar sessions in particular. | B2 — adverbial phrase "in particular" |
| The lawyer requested the full particulars of the incident before proceeding. | C1 — noun (particulars = formal details) |
Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| pay particular attention (to) | Pay particular attention to spelling in formal writing. |
| of particular importance / interest | This finding is of particular importance for teachers. |
| in particular | Nothing in particular caught my eye at the exhibition. |
| a particular case / example / issue | In this particular case, the rule does not apply. |
| be particular about | He is very particular about how his coffee is made. |
| no particular reason | There was no particular reason for the change of plan. |
| personal particulars | Please fill in your personal particulars on the form. |
| in every particular | The copy matched the original in every particular. |
| particularly important / useful / good | This chapter is particularly useful for B2 learners. |
| not particularly | I was not particularly surprised by the result. |
Usage Notes
Three senses — one word
- Singling out: "this particular problem" — stresses that it is this one, not others. Often replaceable by "specific".
- Especially great: "of particular concern / importance / interest" — near synonym of "especial" (formal) or "special". Used in fixed collocations.
- Fussy: "She is particular about grammar" — describes someone with high, exacting standards. Can be neutral or mildly critical.
"In particular" is a fixed adverbial phrase and should not be broken up: say in particular, not in a particular when you mean "especially".
"Particulars" (noun) belongs to formal, legal, or official registers. In everyday speech, use details instead.
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
I didn't go there for a particular reason. (when you mean "no special reason")
I didn't go there for any particular reason. (use "any" in negative and question contexts)
She is very particular on the quality of her work.
She is very particular about the quality of her work. (the correct preposition is "about")
This is a very particular problem that needs solving. (overuse — sounds unnatural in many contexts)
This is a very specific problem that needs solving. (use "specific" when you mean "precisely defined")