" People's " but not " Peoples' "

[Bogota63]

Please, could you help me with this question?

- People is a plural noun
- We write "People's choice"

On the other hand tt is correct "The teachers' day" because it is plural, "Teachers". Why not "Peoples' choice".

Thanks and regards,

Bogota63

[Soup]

When people means “the entire body of persons who constitute a community or other group by virtue of a common culture, history, etc.,” it is used as a singular, with the plural peoples: The aboriginal peoples of the Western Hemisphere speak many different languages. The formation of the possessive is regular; the singular is people's and the plural is peoples'.

Source peoples - Definitions from Dictionary.com

[Bogota63]

Originally Posted by Soup

When people means “the entire body of persons who constitute a community or other group by virtue of a common culture, history, etc.,” it is used as a singular, with the plural peoples: The aboriginal peoples of the Western Hemisphere speak many different languages. The formation of the possessive is regular; the singular is people's and the plural is peoples'.

Source peoples - Definitions from Dictionary.com

Thank you Soup!

This means that the Oxford Diccionary is wrong? According to this dictionary, it is always plural!!

Regards,

Bogota63

[Raymott]

Originally Posted by Bogota63

Thank you Soup!

This means that the Oxford Diccionary is wrong? According to this dictionary, it is always plural!!

Regards,

Bogota63

I doubt it. I have a few versions of various Oxford Dictionaries, including access to the humungous OED. They all acknowledge singular people.
Which version have you got; and exactly how do they indicate that it's always plural?

[Bogota63]

Originally Posted by Raymott

I doubt it. I have a few versions of various Oxford Dictionaries, including access to the humungous OED. They all acknowledge singular people.
Which version have you got; and exactly how do they indicate that it's always plural?

Raymott, thank you for your answer.

I have two Oxford dictionaries, both are the sixth edition. The first is the 6th impression, 2001 and the second is the 5th impression, 2003. The second includes the CD.

I found the same 9 entries for "people" in them. The only entry that does not have [pl] is number 3, "3 [C] all the persons who live in..." wich means it is a countable noun buy again plural, "all the persons"!!

Could this [C] be singular in some cases?

Thanks and regards,

Bogota63

[Raymott]

Originally Posted by Bogota63

Raymott, thank you for your answer.

I have two Oxford dictionaries, both are the sixth edition. The first is the 6th impression, 2001 and the second is the 5th impression, 2003. The second includes the CD.

I found the same 9 entries for "people" in them. The only entry that does not have [pl] is number 3, "3 [C] all the persons who live in..." wich means it is a countable noun buy again plural, "all the persons"!!

Could this [C] be singular in some cases?

Thanks and regards,

Bogota63

That's puzzling. But obviously that version has left out the singular use.
All dictionaries have a space requirement, and while "a people" is correct, it is not common.
The main reason I posted was to point out that even though they have 9 plural entries and no singular entries, they are not claiming that "it is always plural!!".

[bhaisahab]

and while "a people" is correct, it is not common.Originally Posted by Raymott

I am really surprised that you say that, so surprised that I googled it just to make sure that I wasn't deluding myself (quite possible these days), the search turned up 305,000 hits for "a people" or "a people's".

[Raymott]

Originally Posted by bhaisahab

and while "a people" is correct, it is not common.Originally Posted by Raymott

I am really surprised that you say that, so surprised that I googled it just to make sure that I wasn't deluding myself (quite possible these days), the search turned up 305,000 hits for "a people" or "a people's".

I meant it's probably not as common as the 9 plural entries that Oxford decided to put in Bogota's dictionary. I don't have that version, so I can't check it myself.