Plural of Person
Use “people” for ordinary groups of human beings; reserve “persons” for contexts where formal/legal wording calls for it. This is not a simple one-form plural: register and sense determine whether people, persons, or peoples is appropriate.
Use “people” for ordinary groups of human beings; reserve “persons” for contexts where formal/legal wording calls for it.
Key details
Further guidance
Core difference
Use “people” for ordinary groups of human beings; reserve “persons” for contexts where formal/legal wording calls for it.
Fast Test
“People” also has a separate countable sense meaning nations or ethnic groups, whose plural can be “peoples.”
Usage Boundary
This is not a simple one-form plural: register and sense determine whether people, persons, or peoples is appropriate.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Person, persons or people? — Cambridge Grammar (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Direct grammar evidence distinguishing ordinary plural people from formal/legalistic persons.