troops vs soldiers

Question

0Thousands of people who were uprooted around the region have taken shelter at the city's main sports gym and other facilities. Reports say 7,395 people have died and 18,645 are trapped in debris in the city.02br02br00Xinhua reported 135,000 Chinese troops and medics are involved in the rescue effort across 58 counties and cities.02br02br00Can I replace troops with soldiers in general? Are they interchangable in other words?02br02br00Thanks in advance!0-

Yoong Liat · Accepted Answer

1blockquote

01cite10New2grammar12cite12br
10Xinhua reported 135,000 Chinese troops and medics are involved in the rescue effort across 58 counties and cities.12br
12br
10Can I replace troops with soldiers in general? 10Yes. The following extract from the Collins Cobuild Dictionary for Advanced Learners gives a very clear definition of 'troops'.12br
12br
101. Troops are soldiers, especially when they are in a particular large organized group doing a particular task.12br
12br
11i10The next phase of the operation will involve the deployment of more than 35,000 troops from thirty-five countries.12i12br
12br
102. A troop is a group of soldiers within a cavalry or armoured regiment.12br
12br
10 ... 11i10a troop of enemy cavalry trotting towards the Dutch right flank.12i12br
12br
12blockquote

1-

New2grammar · Answer

0Oh no! Definition 2 makes things confusing. If a news article says two troops died in Baghdagh yesterday, how would you interpretate it?02br
02br
00Thanks, YL.0-

Optilang · Answer

0 For me soldier = a member of the army02br
00troops = members of the armed forces - could be army, marines, etc 0-

Yoong Liat · Answer

1blockquote

01cite10New2grammar12cite12br
10Oh no! Definition 2 makes things confusing. If a news article says two troops died in Baghdagh yesterday, how would you interpretate it?12br
12br
10Thanks, YL.12br
12br
12blockquote

10It would be reported as two soldiers died ... 02br
02br
01b00Troops are soldiers, especially when they are02b00 01b00in a particular large organized group02b00 doing a particular task. 02br
02br
00When it is reported that 35,000 troops were deployed ..., it would refer to the whole group of individual soldiers, totalling 35,000.0-

Yoong Liat · Answer

1blockquote

01cite10New2grammar12cite12br
10Oh no! Definition 2 makes things confusing. If a news article says two troops died in Baghdagh yesterday, how would you 11b10interpretate12b10 it?12br
12br
10Thanks, YL.12br
12br
12blockquote

10Hi New2grammar02br
02br
00I think you've forgotten my advice. It should be 01b00in-ter-pret. 02b0-

troops vs soldiers

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions