Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
persons/people
English answer:
singular or collective, context, register etc.
Added to glossary by
Carole Hognestad
Feb 25, 2009 10:57
15 yrs ago
English term
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persons/people
English
Social Sciences
Mathematics & Statistics
I have been asked by a client to explain when to use persons and when to use people (in relation to statistical reports). Does anyone have a (simple!) explanation that would make sense to them?
Responses
| 4 +1 | singular or collective, context, register etc. |
B D Finch
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| 4 +1 | personas/pueblos |
Rafael Bordabehere (X)
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References
| see the link please |
Phong Le
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Responses
+1
3 hrs
Selected
singular or collective, context, register etc.
People is a collective noun. It can also be used in the plural, e.g. the peoples of Latin America. It is used both to indicate a nation and as a plural for person. In legal language (or some social science contexts) the plural of "person" is "persons", because it is more precise and implies specific individuals (even if their actual identity is unknown). So, a crime may have been committed by "person or persons unknown", but not by "person or people unknown".
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Note added at 23 hrs (2009-02-26 10:41:12 GMT)
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Abraham Lincoln knew what the difference was when he wrote "We, the people, are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, ... ". "We, the persons" would not have made sense. However, "we, the persons having an interest in property X..." would make perfect sense and be correct. A single person couldn't claim to be master of Congress and the courts on the authority of Lincoln. A single person could, however, say that they had an interest in property X.
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Note added at 23 hrs (2009-02-26 10:41:12 GMT)
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Abraham Lincoln knew what the difference was when he wrote "We, the people, are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, ... ". "We, the persons" would not have made sense. However, "we, the persons having an interest in property X..." would make perfect sense and be correct. A single person couldn't claim to be master of Congress and the courts on the authority of Lincoln. A single person could, however, say that they had an interest in property X.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Ken Cox
: 'persons' is often used in a statistics context because the people are regarded as countable individuals. IMO 'persons' can and should be used to refer to distinguishable individuals, while 'people' should be used as the mass noun.
57 mins
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Thanks Ken. Yes, as you point out, persons in the statistics context are individuals who might behave differently.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Many thanks for all the input on this."
+1
3 mins
personas/pueblos
We usually refer to "persons" to single individuals and to "people" to groups of persons. People is wider than persons in its concept and includes, sometimes, cultural aspects.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Gary D
: some people, a persons grief
3 mins
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Thanks Gary D. I did not know that saying. Good luck.
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Discussion