staff members

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "staff members" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to individuals who are part of a team or organization, typically in a professional context. Example: "The staff members are required to attend the meeting on Friday to discuss the upcoming project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Staff members objected.

The New York Times

Staff members have quit.

The New York Times

For individuals, use staff members.

The New York Times

But not Chevrolet staff members.

The New York Times

Staff members were let go.

The New York Times - Arts

Staff members opened the curtains.

The New York Times

Staff members were stumped, too.

The New York Times - Science

Staff members sort through and recycle garbage.

The New York Times - Travel

Various other staff members wandered in.

The New Yorker

(Two staff members have since been added).

The New York Times - Magazine

WHAT training did cooking staff members receive?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing for a broad audience, "staff members" is a clear and neutral way to refer to the individuals working within an organization. Use it when you want to avoid potentially loaded terms like "employees" or overly formal terms like "personnel".

Common error

Repeating "staff members" multiple times in a short paragraph can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "personnel", "team", or "employees" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "staff members" functions as a plural noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. As shown by Ludwig, it identifies individuals who constitute the personnel of an organization.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

21%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "staff members" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to the individuals working within an organization. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage spans various contexts, from news reports to scientific articles. While generally neutral, it's important to avoid overuse and consider synonyms like "employees", "personnel", or "team members" to add variety to your writing. Remember that "staff" is a collective noun, while "staff members" refers to individual people. In most cases, use "staff members" when referring to individuals.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

company staff

Alternative word order, placing emphasis on the company.

team members

Emphasizes the collaborative aspect of working together within a group.

employees

A standard term for individuals who work for a company or organization for wages or a salary.

personnel

A more general term referring to the people employed in an organization or company; less specific than "staff members".

personnel members

A more formal and somewhat redundant way of saying "staff members".

department staff

Denotes those working in a particular department.

workforce

Refers to the total number of workers, typically in a company or region.

unit personnel

Specific to a division or unit within a larger organization.

group employees

Those who are jointly employed by the same organization

organization members

Focuses on the affiliation with the specific organization.

FAQs

What is the difference between "staff" and "staff members"?

"Staff" is a collective noun that refers to the entire group of employees, while "staff members" refers to individual people who make up that group. It is generally better to use "staff members" when referring to individual people.

When is it appropriate to use "personnel" instead of "staff members"?

"Personnel" is a more formal term often used in official or administrative contexts. While it's mostly interchangeable, consider using "staff members" in less formal communication to sound more approachable.

Is it correct to say "staff member" instead of "staff members" when referring to one person?

Yes, "staff member" is the singular form. You would use "staff member" when referring to one individual and "staff members" when referring to multiple individuals.

What are some other ways to refer to "staff members" in a business setting?

In a business setting, you could use terms like "team members", "employees", or "colleagues" depending on the context and the relationship between the individuals.