Hi there!
Our previous English teacher always told us "It's not persons, it's people!"
Anyway, in the last weeks I've come across a couple of examples in books where it said "persons".
Am I right when I assume that "persons" is alright when I want to stress that I mean every single one?
Cheers
ibex
"persons"
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- English Legend
- Beiträge: 4799
- Registriert: 30. Jul 2008 11:20
- Muttersprache: Deutsch
- Wohnort: Borough of Gateshead
Re: "persons"
I hope this makes it a bit clearer:
person = individual human being (man, woman, child) . Plural: persons. Mainly used in formal context.
people = generally used for more than one individual human
person = individual human being (man, woman, child) . Plural: persons. Mainly used in formal context.
people = generally used for more than one individual human
Bitte keine Korrektur- / Erklärungsanfragen per PN.
British English (BE) Sprecher.
British English (BE) Sprecher.
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- Lingo Whiz
- Beiträge: 2815
- Registriert: 13. Jun 2010 01:36
- Muttersprache: de, (pl)
Re: "persons"
Basically yes. This is also why it is usually only found in formal contexts like legal texts because that's really where you have to make a distinction.ibex hat geschrieben: Am I right when I assume that "persons" is alright when I want to stress that I mean every single one?
You're never too old to learn something stupid.
Mistake – Suggestion – You sure that's right?
Mistake – Suggestion – You sure that's right?