face to face, in person

Question

Let me in! I need to speak to the CEO [in person/face to face].Is there any difference between the two choices?Thanks in advance!

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Let me in! I need to speak to the CEO [in person/face to face].

Is there any difference between the two choices?

Generally speaking, there is no real difference. However, here are a couple of comments on slight differences in emphasis.

in person This stresses the idea that I do't want to talk to, for example, his assistant.

face to face This stresses the idea that he must be physically in front of me and not, for example, on the phone.

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks, Clive.

Jhiga · Answer

(Haha…I hope my American English is intelligible!)

“In person” means you (or the person doing the action) is present:

“I went to go see the castle in person.”

“He should talk to his boss in person.”

“It was wonderful seeing the Mona Lisa in

person!”

“Before the adoption, it’s better to see the

puppy in person.”

“Face to face” requires that both the subject and the object of the action be persons (or at least have “faces”??):

“He should talk to his boss face to

face.”

“Before the adoption, it’s better to see

the puppy face to face.”

Humorous:

“It was wonderful seeing the Mona Lisa face to face!”

But probably NOT:

“I went to go see the castle face to face.”

face to face, in person

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions