"People"
* Plural: "People" is always plural, referring to multiple individuals.
* General Group: Use it when talking about a group of people in general, without specifying a number.
* Example: "Many people believe in climate change."
* Collective Noun: Can be used to refer to a specific group, even if it's a small number.
* Example: "The people of this town are very friendly."
"Person"
* Singular: "Person" is always singular, referring to one individual.
* Specific Individual: Use it when referring to one particular person.
* Example: "That person is my neighbor."
* Generic Reference: Can be used in general statements about individuals.
* Example: "A person should always be respectful of others."
Key Points:
* Context is Key: The choice between "people" and "person" depends on the number of individuals you're referring to and the context of your sentence.
* Avoiding "Persons": "Persons" is generally considered archaic and is rarely used in modern English.
Examples:
* Correct: "The people in the park were having a picnic." (Plural)
* Correct: "That person is wearing a red hat." (Singular)
* Incorrect: "The persons in the park were having a picnic." (Avoid "persons")
Let me know if you have any other questions about "people" vs. "person"!