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Person vs people



 
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ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
listen vs. hear? | Aviation English: 'coordinate', 'regimes' and 'attack'
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Person vs people #1 (permalink) Wed Dec 06, 2006 15:13 pm   Person vs people
 

Hi!

I read somewhere (I really can't remember the source, sorry) that noun PERSON has no regular plural form (which should be persons), but in plural it becomes people.
Is it correct?

Snezana
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Person vs people #2 (permalink) Wed Dec 06, 2006 19:47 pm   Person vs people
 

You are right about 'people' being the common plural form of 'person'. However, the plural 'persons' can also be used in formal contexts.
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Person vs people #3 (permalink) Thu Dec 07, 2006 14:18 pm   Person vs people
 

Thanks a lot, Conchita! I did meet both plural forms, indeed, but I just wasn't sure which one is "more" correct! So, it has to do with formal usage.
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Person vs people #4 (permalink) Thu Dec 07, 2006 16:36 pm   Person vs people
 

Hi,

I always read these words inside elevators "three or six persons only) why they didn't write people?!!

let me know what your opinion, please!

regards,
Mba
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Person vs people #5 (permalink) Thu Dec 07, 2006 16:50 pm   Person vs people
 

When "persons" is used, it is usually in a very formal sense.

"People" is far, far more common.
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Person vs people #6 (permalink) Thu Sep 04, 2008 18:03 pm   Person vs people
 

Hi,

You might also want to read people vs. person.

Let me know what you think.
Regards,
Torsten
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