individuals

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "individuals" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to separate people, as in the following example sentence: "The individuals stood out of the crowd due to their unique clothing style."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The two supreme court justices thought likely to cast the deciding votes, Anthony Kennedy and the chief justice, John Roberts, appeared deeply sceptical of the government's contention that healthcare regulation is a special case that gives Congress the power to oblige individuals to obtain insurance.

The Guardian

The players wanted to have their heads protected, but as individuals they couldn't afford to jeopardize their effectiveness on the ice.

The Economist

And while the Yale economist Robert Shiller has long advocated using markets to help individuals protect themselves against things like declining house prices or future unemployment, the chances of that happening now seem smaller than ever.

The Economist

Now money from business and individuals has dried up and public funding for youth projects is doled out to the political parties' youth affiliates.

The Guardian

Gina McCarthy, who heads the EPA, said in a press call last week that her agency had found that 80% of small business owners supported the rule, as did a majority of those individuals and organizations who submitted public comments in the run-up to the rule's introduction.

The Guardian

XKeyscore An NSA program that allows analysts to search vast databases of emails, online chats and browsing histories of millions of individuals, with no prior authorisation.

The Guardian

For staff to have a clear idea of the standards they should meet takes time, commitment to the development of individuals and teams – and a plan.

The Guardian

But current events will inevitably exacerbate the already established stereotype of the majority of young individuals as "thugs" and "gangsters", especially within the black community.

The Guardian - Opinion

18.7 million, or 90%, of people in forced labour are part of the private economy, exploited by individuals or enterprises.

The Guardian

The Heart of Midlothian manager Paulo Sérgio is quite likely to have his name added to a list, in double figures, of the individuals removed from that post by the owner Vladimir Romanov.

The Guardian - Sport

Iman, who considers herself to be among the empowered women in Egypt, believes that when the temporary government was put together, it "brought to parliament a few individuals whose beliefs belong to the medieval century".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for inclusivity, consider using "individuals" to emphasize that each person is unique and has their own distinct needs, rather than generalizing with terms like "users" or "customers".

Common error

While "individuals" is generally acceptable, using it excessively in casual conversation or informal writing can sound overly formal. Opt for more natural alternatives like "people" or "folks" to maintain a friendly tone.

Linguistic Context

The term "individuals" functions primarily as a plural noun, referring to more than one distinct person. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Formal & Business

22%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "individuals" is a grammatically sound and versatile term used to refer to multiple distinct people. While it's prevalent in formal and news contexts, more casual options like "people" exist for informal communication. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and frequent usage. When choosing alternatives, consider the nuance you wish to convey and the level of formality required. This term serves well when precision and distinctiveness are key, while the alternatives offer similar meaning with different degree of formality and intention.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

particular people

Highlights the specificity and uniqueness of the individuals being referred to.

private citizens

Focuses on the status of people as non-governmental members of society.

members of the public

Highlights the collective aspect of people within a community.

human beings

Emphasizes the biological and species-level aspect of people.

separate persons

Emphasizes the distinct and independent nature of each person.

specific entities

Emphasizes the definite and identifiable nature of each entity.

single entities

Focuses on the individuality and self-contained existence of each person or organization.

natural persons

This alternative emphasizes the legal definition of a human being as opposed to a corporation.

souls

Refers to individuals from a spiritual or philosophical perspective.

mortals

Highlights the human condition of being subject to death.

FAQs

How to use "individuals" in a sentence?

The term "individuals" is used to refer to multiple separate people. For example: "The study examined how stress affects /s/individuals in high-pressure jobs".

What can I say instead of "individuals"?

You can use alternatives like "people", "persons", or "citizens" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "individuals" or "peoples"?

"Individuals" is the standard plural form of "individual". "Peoples" refers to distinct ethnic or national groups.

What's the difference between "individuals" and "persons"?

"Individuals" is a more common and generally applicable term. "Persons" tends to be used in legal or formal contexts.