The way I see it..

[0240] Personally, I feel..

🎲 To be honest.
English Idioms
All Idioms

Explanation

  • A phrase used to introduce an opinion or viewpoint that is explicitly based on the speaker's personal feelings, intuition, or subjective experience, rather than objective facts or logic alone.

Origin

  • Combines the adverb Personally (relating to oneself) with the verb feel (to experience an emotion or sensation, or to hold a belief or opinion, often intuitively).
  • Emphasizes the subjective and possibly emotional basis of the statement.

Synonyms & Related Expressions

  • My gut feeling is... / My intuition tells me...
  • I have a feeling that...
  • I think... (See 0236, can be similar but often less emotion-focused)
  • In my opinion... (See 0237, often implies more reasoned judgment)
  • The way I see it... (See 0239, focuses on interpretation)
  • Speaking for myself...

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

  • My gut says...
  • I dunno, I just get a vibe that...
  • If you ask me... (Can sometimes convey a strong feeling/opinion, see 0238)

More Focused on Intuition:

  • Intuitively, I believe...
  • I sense that...

More Formal (Expressing personal stance):

  • From my personal standpoint...
  • As far as I'm concerned... (Can also be informal/assertive)

Situational Appropriateness

  • Appropriate in many situations, especially when discussing subjective preferences, ethical considerations, or decisions involving intuition or emotional impact.
  • May be less appropriate in highly analytical or data-driven discussions where objective evidence is paramount, unless used to express reservations or human factors.

Misunderstanding Warnings

  • Clear in its meaning. Explicitly flags the statement as based on personal feeling or intuition.

Examples

  • Personally, I feel this decision is rushed.
  • Logically it makes sense, but personally, I feel uneasy about it.
  • Personally, I feel that blue would look better than green.

Dialogue

Friend 1: Should we invest in that new tech startup? The numbers look promising.

Friend 2: Personally, I feel it's too risky right now. Something about the market feels off to me.

Friend 1: Hmm, okay. I get the numbers, but I value your gut feeling too. Let's hold off for a bit then.

Social Media Examples

  • Response to a poll: Voted Option C. Personally, I feel it's the most ethical choice.
  • Comment on a review: Personally, I feel the movie was emotionally powerful, even if the plot had holes.

Response Patterns

  • Acknowledgment of feeling: Okay, I understand why you might feel that way. / Thanks for sharing how you feel.
  • Seeking reasoning (if not purely emotional): What makes you feel that way? / Is there a specific reason you feel uneasy?
  • Agreement/Shared feeling: I feel the same way. / I get that feeling too.
  • Disagreement (often gentle): I understand you feel that way, but I see the logic differently.

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

After hearing Personally, I feel...:

  • Listeners often recognize the subjective or intuitive nature of the comment and might respond with empathy or curiosity about the underlying reasons.

After stating Personally, I feel...:

  • The speaker has shared their subjective take, which might be harder to argue against logically but adds an important emotional or intuitive dimension to the discussion.

Conversation Starter

  • Yes.
  • Can initiate a conversation by sharing a personal feeling about a topic. Example: Personally, I feel this city needs more green spaces.

Intonation

  • Often spoken with a slightly softer or more considered tone than I think or In my opinion.
  • A slight pause after Personally is common. PERSONALLY, (pause) I FEEL we should reconsider.
  • Stress can be on Personally or feel.

Generation Differences

  • Widely used. The emphasis on personal feelings might align well with contemporary communication styles in some circles.

Regional Variations

  • Common across all English-speaking regions.
The way I see it..
🎲 To be honest.