at persons

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at persons" is not correct and is not commonly used in written English.
It may be intended to refer to something directed towards individuals, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "The policy is aimed at persons who require assistance."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

The survey included a firm-level survey targeted at firms and an employee (personal) survey targeted at persons re-employed by those firms; however, as the decision-maker in our theoretical model is the firm, only the corporate survey was used in this study.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

Beginning in 1917 with language directed at persons who were of "psychopathic inferiority" or "afflicted with psychopathic personality," Congress targeted gays and lesbians for immigration exclusion.

Huffington Post

The Swiss attorney general stated: "Therefore, the Swiss proceeding is aimed at persons unknown, with Fifa as the injured party".

The Guardian - Sport

Do not fire directly at persons as serious injury or death may result" and "Federal Laboratories will assume no liability for the misuse of this device".

The Guardian

"We are looking at persons who helped solicit monies, who moved monies in and through bank accounts and who received monies," he said.

The New York Times

The University of Technology, Sydney has designed a special short postgraduate program targeted at persons in developing countries who have or wish to have such software responsibility.

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Look at person's faces when either one of you talk.

WikiHow

Look at the persons actions.

WikiHow

Users give each other compliments directed either at the person or at their reviews.

Journal of Big Data

"At Viscardi, you're right at the person".

The New York Times

Look at the person - make eye contact - smile at them.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "at persons" in formal writing. Opt for more standard alternatives like "at people", "at individuals", or "towards people" for clarity and grammatical correctness. Always consider the specific context to choose the most appropriate and precise phrasing.

Common error

The phrase "at persons" is often used when "at people" or "at individuals" would be more appropriate. Using "persons" can sound overly formal or stilted, especially in everyday contexts. Choose the simpler and more direct "people" unless a specific legal or formal context requires the term "persons".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at persons" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically used to indicate the target or recipient of an action or intention. However, as Ludwig AI points out, the construction is not grammatically correct in standard English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "at persons" appears in a variety of sources, including news, scientific, and academic contexts, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, more appropriate alternatives include "at people", "at individuals", or "towards people". When writing, it's best to avoid "at persons" to ensure clarity and correctness. Although the phrase is used, focusing on alternatives will improve your writing and avoid potential grammatical errors. Choosing the right phrasing ensures that your message is accurately and professionally conveyed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

directed towards people

Emphasizes the direction of an action or intention towards a group of people.

aimed at individuals

Replaces "persons" with "individuals", a more common and grammatically sound alternative.

intended for people

Uses "intended" to convey the purpose of something being designed for a specific group.

targeting individuals

Focuses on the act of specifically targeting a group of people.

addressing individuals

Highlights the act of speaking or providing solutions to people.

concerning people

Indicates a matter that relates to or involves people.

regarding people

Similar to 'concerning', but may imply a more formal or detached approach.

related to individuals

Indicates a connection or association with a group of people.

for individuals

Uses "for" to indicate the beneficiaries or recipients of something.

in relation to people

Positions the subject in connection or comparison with a group of people.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "at persons"?

The phrase "at persons" is generally considered incorrect. You should use "at people", "at individuals", or "towards people" instead, depending on the intended meaning and context.

When is it appropriate to use the word "persons"?

The word "persons" is appropriate in legal or formal contexts where precision is necessary. In everyday language, "people" is usually preferred. For example, a legal document might refer to "all persons present", while a casual conversation would use "all the people present".

What alternatives can I use for "at persons" in a sentence?

Instead of "at persons", consider using phrases like "directed at people", "aimed at individuals", or "targeting people". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "at persons" grammatically correct?

No, "at persons" is not grammatically correct in most contexts. The correct and more common usage would be "at people", "to persons" (though "to people" is usually better), or a rephrased sentence using alternatives like "directed towards people".