Proofreading Service - Pain in the English
Proofreading Service - Pain in the English

Your Pain Is Our Pleasure

24-Hour Proofreading Service—We proofread your Google Docs or Microsoft Word files. We hate grammatical errors with a passion. Learn More

Proofreading Service - Pain in the English
Proofreading Service - Pain in the English

Your Pain Is Our Pleasure

24-Hour Proofreading Service—We proofread your Google Docs or Microsoft Word files. We hate grammatical errors with a passion. Learn More

People(s)

Why is, in some of the English texts of the last century, the word, PEOPLE capitalized and written as PEOPLES? Just wonder when it became a single word without a plural form? I mean we write: “People are stupid.” But you can’t say today: “PeopleS are nice.” Right? Any idea?

Submit Your Comment

or fill in the name and email fields below:

Comments

I hope I'm understanding your question properly.

After examining the dictionary entries for "people" (which usually also contain "peoples"), I conclude that the distinction is probably made to avoid the following sort of confusion:

Compare:

"Mayan and Chinese people built pyramids in ancient times."
"Mayan and Chinese peoples built pyramids in ancient times."

I can't imagine too many ancient people (individuals) who were both Mayan and Chinese, can you (distance being the obstacle to intermarriage that it is)? But I can easily imagine that there was a people (nation, society) that was Mayan, and another people that was Chinese, and that they were each pyramid builders.

speedwell2 Feb-10-2004

2 votes   Permalink   Report Abuse

Not that the Chinese were notable pyramid builders or anything :)

speedwell2 Feb-10-2004

0 vote   Permalink   Report Abuse

It may clarify the question.
We never say "People is..." We always say "People are..."
Besides, many of dictionaries say "plural: people
". See Longman for example. Or check this out:
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=people

goossun Feb-12-2004

0 vote   Permalink   Report Abuse

I agree with Speedwell. You use "people" when referring to one group of people, like the Chinese people. But, you use "peoples" when you are referring to more than one "people." For example: The Chineses and Mayan peoples built pyramids in ancient times.
Whereas, you would say: The Chinese people built pyramids in ancient times. And: The Mayan people built pyramids in ancient times.

It's like the word "fish." You can have many fish and many groups of fishes.

Jason1 Feb-13-2004

0 vote   Permalink   Report Abuse

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=people

5 plural peoples : a body of persons that are united by a common culture, tradition, or sense of kinship, that typically have common language, institutions, and beliefs, and that often constitute a politically organized group

Merriam-Webster Feb-25-2004

0 vote   Permalink   Report Abuse

"People are stupid" is itself technically awkward, though we are used to hearing it. "People" is a collective term, while "persons" refers to individuals. So people are not stupid, persons are stupid.

However, Merriam-Webster acknowledges that "persons" is switched with "people." eg - "salepeople" instead of "salespersons."

juan Mar-05-2004

0 vote   Permalink   Report Abuse

Language evolution at work.

M_Stevenson Apr-11-2004

0 vote   Permalink   Report Abuse

Peoples are peoples so why should it be you and I get along so awfully?

krodamai Jan-29-2008

0 vote   Permalink   Report Abuse

Most of the previous posts are on the right track, but there's something that no one has explicitly stated.

The word "people" meaning more than one person, is a plural noun.

The word "people" meaning a group or society with a common culture, history, geography, ethnicity, etc. may actually be used as a singular noun. Thus, "peoples" would be the plural for more than one "people".

Examples:

"We are a people of honesty and integrity"

"Many peoples originally migrated from Africa during early human evolution"

See the usage note at www.dictionary.com

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=people

porsche Jan-29-2008

0 vote   Permalink   Report Abuse

Do you have a question? Submit your question here