existing person

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "existing person" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an individual who is currently alive or present in a particular context. Example: "In our study, we focused on the behaviors of the existing person in the group to understand social dynamics."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

However, what many people find disturbing is the idea of creating a genetic duplicate of an existing person, or a person who has existed.

SEP

Experiments on four public datasets show that our approach achieves a consistently better performance than existing person re-identification methods.

Pattern Recognition

Many existing person re-identification methods may have difficulty in matching pedestrians when their pictures are similar in appearance or there is object occlusion in pictures.

Pattern Recognition Letters

"For an existing person, the presence of bad things is bad and the presence of good things is good," Benatar explained.

The New Yorker

On the other hand, if some already existing person is sick, has some life-threatening illness and can be helped by what's called somatic modification -- that is genetic modification of the body cells of an already-existing person -- I think that is fine.

The New York Times

Unlike most existing person re-identification methods which only use RGB images, our approach recognizes people from RGB-D images so that more information such as anthropometric measures and body shapes can be exploited for re-identification.

Pattern Recognition

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

The new service will improve upon banks' existing person-to-person payment services, and it will compete directly with PayPal, which has shuttled money between consumers for years.

The New York Times

The reductio ad absurdum of this argument is the prohibition of any form of contraception by certain religious conservatives, who place abstract reproductive possibilities above existing persons.

The New York Times

But why should we restrict our attention only to presently existing persons?

SEP

Furthermore, can presently existing persons, in making such decisions, be guided by the interests of future persons?

SEP

Lindemann worries, furthermore, that such extraordinary measures help enforce an image of the fetus as already a person with a claim on resources as large as or even larger than that of existing persons.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing philosophical or ethical implications, use "existing person" to clearly differentiate from hypothetical or future individuals.

Common error

Avoid using "living person" interchangeably with "existing person" in scientific research. While similar, "existing person" can sometimes refer to data points or records, not necessarily a person currently alive. Clarify the context to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "existing person" primarily functions as a noun phrase, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig AI's analysis shows it frequently appears in discussions distinguishing between actual and potential individuals, as seen in ethical or scientific contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "existing person" serves as a noun phrase used to denote an individual currently alive or recognized within a specific context. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and suitable for distinguishing real individuals from hypothetical ones, particularly in philosophical, ethical, and scientific discussions. While less common than other alternatives, understanding its specific nuances can enhance clarity and precision in writing. Key takeaways include recognizing its neutral-to-formal register and avoiding confusion with similar terms like "living person".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Living individual

Replaces "person" with "individual", emphasizing the active state of being alive.

Current individual

Combines "current" and "individual" for a slightly more formal tone.

Current person

Substitutes "existing" with "current", highlighting the present state of being.

Present person

Similar to "current person", but emphasizes the person's presence in a specific context.

Extant person

Uses "extant" for a more formal and less common way to say "existing".

Living being

A broader term, replacing "person" with "being" to encompass any living entity.

A person now living

Rephrases to emphasize the act of living in the present.

An individual alive today

Expands the phrase to explicitly state the person is alive at the present time.

An active person

Highlights the person's active participation or state of being functional.

A being in existence

A philosophical phrasing, focuses on the state of existence.

FAQs

What does "existing person" mean?

The term "existing person" refers to an individual who is currently alive or whose existence is acknowledged within a specific context, such as in data records or philosophical discussions.

When is it appropriate to use "existing person" instead of "living person"?

"Existing person" is suitable when you want to emphasize the fact of someone's existence, especially in contrast to hypothetical or potential individuals. "Living person" focuses more on the state of being alive.

Are there any synonyms for "existing person"?

Yes, you can use alternatives such as "current person", "present person", or "living individual" depending on the context.

How is "existing person" used in philosophical debates?

In philosophy, "existing person" is often used to distinguish between actual individuals and potential or hypothetical ones, particularly in discussions about ethics, rights, and the non-identity problem.