T
Teby
two people or two persons? which one is correct?
26 apr. 2014 08:13
Antwoorden · 8
J
Jmat
4
"People" and "persons" are both technically correct, but you will usually only ever read "persons" in very specific contexts. I don't think I've ever said or written "persons" in my entire life. You commonly see it in legal contexts, but otherwise it's rarely used ex. "Police are currently searching for missing the persons", "This elevator can hold a maximum of ten persons", "This product is not suitable for persons under eighteen years of age" etc. Sadly, I've even heard native speakers more than once say "Hey, they spelled 'people' wrong!". That's how uncommon it is. It's good to recognise "persons" when you see it, but you will never go wrong if you always say "people".
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26 april 2014
Jmat
"I don't think I've ever said or written "persons" in my entire life." - Well, outside of italki. Actually I'm pretty sure I said it wasn't a word the first time I saw someone ask about it on italki!
26 april 2014 · Antwoord
Teacher Alan
"Persons of interest" is another example. And "persons of color." So, one can think of person almost as a plural for individual in these examples.
26 april 2014 · Antwoord
C
Craig Mansfield
2
I've heard "persons" in American English, but as: "American" - in this case - is a synonym for "incorrect", go with "people" for everyday usage :D I remembered a scene from: "Taxi Driver" where one of the drivers tries to sell a piece of "Errol Flynn's bathtub". He said you could: "see the watermark of three persons".
26 april 2014
郭东兴
2
"two people" There are a few occasions where one might use "two persons" but their almost exclusively in journalism or legal cases. You'll almost never see it in daily reading.
26 april 2014
P
Peachey
1
Your first choice when talking about more than one person is "(two) people". "Persons" only makes sense if you mean "individuals"... and as 郭东兴 has pointed out, this is quite uncommon.
26 april 2014
D
David
Persons is an old word, from formal English. For instance, I've heard on trial: murdered by person or persons unknown. --> Legal language is often more formal and traditional than daily chatting. Furthermore, you will find that word throughout the literature of the XVIII and XIX centuries in classic authors such as Jane Austen or Charles Dickens. This word was also used by totalitarian regimes to give a flavour of tradition, for example, by the segregationist South Africa, in banners and documents: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/ApartheidSignEnglishAfrikaans.jpg Anyway, I was told not to use this plural form any more. I hope this helps you.
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26 april 2014
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