When is persons correct

I recognize a lot of persons just use people regardless. I do not think so. But I am still learning. What is important is that there be some consensus as words change their meaning in different locations and circumstances. Word meanings do change with time.

Consensus is preferred otherwise we will speak to each other and get different information from the same discussion. People versus Persons By Daniel Scocco. Stop making those embarrassing mistakes! Subscribe to Daily Writing Tips today! You will improve your English in only 5 minutes per day, guaranteed! You'll also get three bonus ebooks completely free! Try It Free Now.

Felix on October 03, am Interesting. Daniel on October 03, am Yes there are, as explained, but if you are worried about which one you should use as the plural of person, than yes you can choose the one you prefer. Gal Daniel on October 03, pm Gal, probably you could say both, but they mean different things. Tyree on October 05, pm I think I understand this. Probably not. However, these terms do have slightly different usages.

C, Philippines on November 25, pm Wow.. One person. Two or more people. Luz Argentina on August 07, am Thank you Daniel! Ed P on June 08, am I do feel the examples given by Michael seems to be rather awkward and perhaps wrongly reasoned. Amad on November 12, am Well this is fascinating. Can you give us an example?

Giveback on January 11, am I think this is what I was taught. Papa Pat on January 12, am Why is seven the dividing line? One person; two people. Melissa on April 19, pm This is a really great explanation.

Eni on September 07, pm With or without face.. What is then the singular of people? Louie on September 08, am really, this blog is just amazing!!!

Apart from or except for? Arise or rise? Around or round? Arouse or rouse? As or like? As , because or since? As , when or while? Been or gone? Begin or start? Beside or besides? Between or among? Born or borne? Bring , take and fetch Can , could or may? Classic or classical? Come or go? Consider or regard? Consist , comprise or compose? Content or contents? Different from , different to or different than?

Do or make? Down , downwards or downward? During or for? Each or every? East or eastern ; north or northern? Economic or economical?

Efficient or effective? Elder , eldest or older , oldest? End or finish? Especially or specially? Except or except for? Expect , hope or wait? Experience or experiment? Fall or fall down? Far or a long way? Farther , farthest or further , furthest? Fast , quick or quickly? Fell or felt? Female or feminine ; male or masculine? Finally , at last , lastly or in the end? First , firstly or at first? Fit or suit? Following or the following?

For or since? Forget or leave? Full or filled? Fun or funny? Find out more about page archiving. Amy Lightfoot answers Click below to hear the answer: listen. For example: The peoples of the world must unite to tackle climate change. However, in both these cases, it would also be correct to use the regular plural people instead of peoples , as in: The people of the world must unite to tackle climate change.

I was approached by a group of persons unknown to myself. About Amy Lightfoot. Downloads To take away: Audio 2 MB. Likely From Daniela, Italy. Youngsters and youths From P. Vinayagam, India. People should always be used when a collective noun referring to the entirety of a group or nation i. For references to groups of a specific or general number, either people or persons may be used, but modern style guides tend to prefer people where earlier guides preferred persons , especially for countable groups.

There are few things in the English language more vexatious and bedeviling than two words which mean almost the same thing, especially if they are similar in appearance. The seeming luxury of having multiple words to choose from is not sufficient to offset the lingering fear that no matter which word you pick it will be the wrong one, causing people to silently laugh at you and judge both you and your grammar school teachers.

So when presented with the choice of people or persons to describe a multitude of humans, many people begin to chew their fingernails in nervous agitation.

Is there a simple explanation for which one to use? When a collective noun is called for to refer, for instance, to the members of an entire nation the appropriate word will always be 'people' "the French people".

Many usage guides over the years have suggested that there is a clear distinction between these two words; people is used when referring to a collective group or indeterminate number, and persons serves better when referring to individuals or a number of individuals.

There are many instances in which this difference may be observed, often when the two words are side by side. That universal chearfulness which is the lot of some people, persons that you and I may envy at the same time that we despise , is all worth all that either fortune or nature can bestow.