Persons or people, which is better?

John C

Some background. My mother tongue is English. After some years in Germany I think, talk and dream in German. I seldom have a conversation in English.

To the point of this thread. When does one say persons rather than people?
Here is a partial quote of one of my posts in another forum.
I have filled up job applications, tax returns and many official forms for persons from Ireland and Britain.
I was tempted to type 'people'. But in all there were three men and two women. IMHO people in this case is misleading and an exaggeration.
I tend to use persons for men and women, whom I know. For me people is a general term.

Is there a rule of thumb? Can you please advise and correct? Correction in language in this language forum is welcome.

Donkey Oaty

Your analysis is not right. "People" is not gender-specific. "Persons" is only used in very formal settings, historically to differentiate between groups of individuals and collective cultures, and is now fairly archaic.

Rule of thumb: use "people" and you will never be wrong.

deman

"Persons" is used in the language of law and insurance, extreme formal cases... court etc or on notices e.g. in a lift, "no more than eight persons".

Otherwise use "people".

pickarooney

I think both sound a little clumsy in this particular instance and would prefer "British and Irish natives/nationals".

As a side note, you would normally fill in or fill out a form.