Distinguishing Between Persons & People

Persons vs People

The distinction between the terms persons and people is important, as they are often confused due to their apparent similarity. Both words have their origins in Middle English, with the word person used only as a noun, while the word people is used both as a plural noun and a verb. The noun peoplehood is derived from the word people. The word person is often used in English phrases such as “be one’s own person,” “in one’s own person,” and “in person.”

What does Persons mean?

The word person refers to an individual human being, a living body of a human being. For example:

He is a cheerful person.
She is a kind person.

In these sentences, the use of the word person indicates a human being or an individual. The word people cannot replace the word person in these sentences. The word persons can be used as the plural form of the word person, meaning individuals or human beings associated with a job or a duty, such as in the following sentence:

The team that looks after the job of evaluation comprises experienced persons.

Therefore, the word person should not be used when referring to the name of a country. For example, “the persons of Australia” is incorrect, while “the people of Australia” is the correct expression.

What does People mean?

The word people refers to a class of persons or groups of individuals. It also refers to the individuals of a land or a country, as in the expressions “people of Australia” or “people of Connecticut.” The word people is often used as a collective noun and is not typically used in the plural form “peoples.” However, the word “peoples” is used in special cases, such as “the peoples of India and Pakistan,” to indicate two different countries represented by their countrymen.

What is the difference between Persons and People?

• The word person refers to an individual human being, while the word people refers to a class of persons or groups of individuals. This is the primary difference between the two terms.
• A person refers to the living body of a human being.
• The word persons can be used as the plural form of the word person and means individuals or human beings associated with a job or a duty.
• The word people refers to the individuals of a land or a country.
• The word people is often used as a collective noun and is not typically used in the plural form “peoples.”
• The word “peoples” is used in special cases.

These are the key differences between the words persons and people.

Key Takeaways

• Persons refers to individuals or human beings associated with a job or duty, while people refers to a class of persons or groups of individuals, often from a specific land or country.
• Person refers to an individual human being, while people is often used as a collective noun.
• The plural form “peoples” is only used in special cases, such as when referring to different countries represented by their countrymen.