50 persons/people are allowed...

[Tan Elaine]

Only 50 persons/people are allowed to go on this pilgrimage.

This is my own sentence. I think I should use 'persons', but is 'people' the wrong word?

Thanks.

[5jj]

'People' is more natural; 'persons' sounds legalistic.

[Rover_KE]

Most native English speakers go through their entire lives without feeling it necessary to use persons rather than people.

Rover

EDIT: on reflection, the marriage ceremony often still contains the words 'I call upon these persons here present. . .'

[sunsunmoon]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nOKN_ZlBQM

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/people-versus-persons/

http://www.englishforums.com/English/PersonsPeople/bqbvn/post.htm

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080623191101AAHZIbX

I hope these help.

I'm not a teacher.

[5jj]

Two People or Two Persons - The Difference - ESL British English Pronunciation - YouTube
People versus Persons
Persons/people
What's the difference between "persons" and "people"? - Yahoo! Answers

I hope these help.

They confirm what Rover and I have already written.

[sunsunmoon]

EDIT: on reflection, the marriage ceremony often still contains the words 'I call upon these persons here present. . .'

The persons can thought of as individuals, not part of a group, can't they?

[bhaisahab]

The persons can thought of as individuals, not part of a group, can't they?

Yes, they can.

[Rover_KE]

The persons can thought of as individuals, not part of a group, can't they?

Yes.

So can people.

Rover

[sunsunmoon]

...use 'people' to refer to a group, and use 'persons' to refer to the individual members of a group.
(From http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/as...ns-people.html)

Could I ask for a detailed explanation?

[5jj]

Could I ask for a detailed explanation?

ou'd have to ask Casiopea . I don't think it's very helpful.