0
Katarina Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
persons/people
hello all!
I have been taught that the plural of 'person' is the irregular form 'people'. However, the plural 'persons' is also grammatically correct but is only used in certain contexts. I still can't really grasp the exact usage of both plurals. Can anyone explain this to me, please? And are the two plurals used differently in AE and BE?
Thanks.
Kat
I have been taught that the plural of 'person' is the irregular form 'people'. However, the plural 'persons' is also grammatically correct but is only used in certain contexts. I still can't really grasp the exact usage of both plurals. Can anyone explain this to me, please? And are the two plurals used differently in AE and BE?
Thanks.
Kat
Top answer
I seriously doubt that this is different in BrE compared to AmE. Here's the usage note from my American Heritage Dictionary: ... People (not persons) is the proper term when referring to a large group of individuals collectively and indefinitely: People can be pushed only so far.
- I seriously doubt that this is different in BrE compared to AmE.
- Here's the usage note from my American Heritage Dictionary: ...
- People (not persons) is the proper term when referring to a large group of individuals collectively and indefinitely: People can be pushed only so far.
- Persons is applicable to a specific and relatively small number: Ten persons were killed.
- But people is also acceptable in this example.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
5 Answers
0
I seriously doubt that this is different in BrE compared to AmE. Here's the usage note from my American Heritage Dictionary:
... People (not persons) is the proper term when referring to a large group of individuals collectively and indefinitely: People can be pushed only so far. Persons is applicable to a specific and relatively small number: Ten
00
0
In all situations but one, people is acceptable as the plural of person. The
one exception arises when person is used to refer to some one's body or
clothing: "The smugglers secreted the drugs on their persons." In all other
known contexts, when the number of human beings under discussion is small and
specific, you can use either people or persons (though, personally, I find
p
one exception arises when person is used to refer to some one's body or
clothing: "The smugglers secreted the drugs on their persons." In all other
known contexts, when the number of human beings under discussion is small and
specific, you can use either people or persons (though, personally, I find
p
00
Hi,
I hope the following piece of information will help a bit, which is taken
from "Right Word Wrong Word" by L. G. Alexander.
people - person - persons
- Versa seems a nice person. (Not people)
(= an individual, a human being)
- Our neighbours are very nice people. (Not persons, nor peoples)
(people is the plural of person to refer to human beings in general)
- The
I hope the following piece of information will help a bit, which is taken
from "Right Word Wrong Word" by L. G. Alexander.
people - person - persons
- Versa seems a nice person. (Not people)
(= an individual, a human being)
- Our neighbours are very nice people. (Not persons, nor peoples)
(people is the plural of person to refer to human beings in general)
- The
00
Teo,
Thanks a lot for the help! And for the examples. :-)
Much much clearer now!
Thanks a lot for the help! And for the examples. :-)
Much much clearer now!
0
Related Questions