eight persons

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "eight persons" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a specific number of individuals in a formal or official context. Example: "The event was attended by eight persons, each representing different organizations."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

At least eight persons died and an estimated 200 were injured, including more than 140 policemen.

The New York Times

You can say there are too many people in a lift ("eight persons max") but not on Earth.

The Guardian - Opinion

Yet Mr. Hood represented himself to Omega investors as "one of only seven or eight persons worldwide who had the knowledge, expertise and capability to conduct these secret multimillion-dollar trades," the United States attorney's office said.

The New York Times

Today, according to the Pew Research Center, one out of eight persons aged twenty-two twenty-nineine reports having been boomeranged to a parent's house because of the recession.

The New Yorker

Eight persons slept in quiet throughout.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

We arranged eight persons for the G13 group and eight persons for T109 group.

Journal of Modern Transportation

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

One thousand two hundred and twenty eight persons were invited to participate in the study.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Twenty-eight persons died during the two-year follow-up (5.5%).

BMC Psychiatry

One-Hundred, eighty-eight persons completed follow up interviews (106 intervention completers, 18 intervention drop outs, all 64 controls).

BMC Psychiatry

Six hundred and sixty-eight persons (72.9%) answered the two fall questions consistently.

BMC Geriatrics

Three hundred and twenty-eight persons, i.e. 15% of the study group, were seen by an internist.

BMC Public Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "eight persons" in formal writing, legal documents, or official reports where precision and a slightly elevated tone are appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "eight persons" in casual conversation or informal writing. Opt for the more common "eight people" in everyday contexts to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "eight persons" functions primarily as a noun phrase specifying a quantity of individuals. It typically acts as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples demonstrating its role in conveying numerical information about a group of people.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

51%

News & Media

37%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "eight persons" is a grammatically correct and usable expression, particularly suited for formal contexts where precision is valued. While "eight people" is often preferred in informal settings, "eight persons" maintains its relevance in legal, scientific, and official documentation. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase serves the primary function of quantifying a group of individuals, and it appears most frequently in scientific and news-related sources. When aiming for clarity and a slightly elevated tone, "eight persons" remains a reliable choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

eight individuals

Replaces "persons" with the synonym "individuals", maintaining a formal tone.

eight people

Uses the more common and less formal term "people" instead of "persons".

a group of eight

Emphasizes the collective aspect, suitable when the focus is on the group as a unit.

eight subjects

Appropriate in a research context when referring to participants.

eight participants

Similar to "subjects" but emphasizes active involvement.

eight members

Suitable when referring to members of a specific organization or group.

eight figures

Can be used if the reference is to significant or prominent individuals.

a team of eight

Highlights the collaborative aspect and function as a unit.

eight souls

Adds an emotional or spiritual dimension, often used in narrative contexts.

eight entities

A more abstract and formal term, suitable when referring to organizations or abstract individuals.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use "eight persons" instead of "eight people"?

"Eight persons" is typically used in formal or legal contexts where a more precise and slightly elevated tone is desired. In everyday conversation, "eight people" is more common.

What is a more formal alternative to "eight persons"?

A more formal alternative could be "eight individuals", which carries a similar level of formality and precision.

Can "eight persons" be used interchangeably with "a group of eight"?

While they both refer to the same quantity, "a group of eight" emphasizes the collective aspect, whereas "eight persons" simply denotes the number of individuals.

Is "eight persons" considered archaic or outdated?

While "persons" is less frequently used than "people" in general conversation, it is not considered archaic. It remains appropriate in formal and legal settings where precision is valued.