particular

Used to show that you mean one exact person or thing.

• I like that particular colour.
• Was there a particular reason for calling?
• That particular shop closes early on Fridays.

Similar words: specific, certain

Opposites: general

Common phrases: this particular case, a particular person, that particular day, a particular model

Greater or more important than usual, or connected especially with one person or thing.

• This issue needs particular attention.
• She took particular pleasure in helping children.
• There was no particular reason for my visit.

Similar words: special, especially great

Common phrases: of particular importance, take particular interest, no particular reason, no particular order

If someone is like this, they choose carefully and accept only what they like or think is good.

• She is very particular about food.
• He has always been particular about his clothes.
• Are you particular about where you sit?

How to use it: particular about something (My father is particular about his coffee.)

Similar words: fussy, choosy, picky

Opposites: easygoing

Common phrases: particular about food, very particular, particular about something

In the expression "in particular", used to give special attention to one person or thing.

• I enjoyed the music in particular.
• Is there anything in particular you need?
• Two pictures in particular caught her attention.

How to use it: someone/something in particular (One student in particular needed help.)

Common phrases: in particular, nothing in particular, someone in particular

One small piece of information about something; usually used in the plural.

• Please send us your particulars.
• The two accounts differ in several particulars.
• She checked every particular before signing the form.

Similar words: detail

Common phrases: every particular, in every particular, one important particular

A single thing or case, considered separately from a whole group or general idea.

• A particular is an individual thing.
• The philosopher distinguished particulars from universals.
• This theory explains how each particular belongs to a class.

Similar words: individual, instance

Opposites: universal

Common phrases: a concrete particular, an individual particular, particular and universal