[monica guiselini]

I was enquired by a student about the difference between people and persons. Is there any difference?
Thanks
Mônica Guiselini

[mesmark]

We generally use the term 'persons,' and not 'people,' to refer to them as individuals. 'People' lumps them all together as the same and indistinguishable from the other. Its usage is a little tricky.

People are crazy.

Certain persons in this room are heading for trouble.

I'll see if I can't find a better explanation for usage

[susan53]

Persons is very unusual except in formal written notices or legal English, in set phrases such as Missing Persons, or used humorously as in Mesmark's example - the humour comes from the unexpected impersonal style in a situation where the speaker quite clearly knows who s/he's talking about. In normal everyday English we would almost always use people in both speech and writing, so the best rule for most lower level students is 1 person (sing) 2 people (pl).
Hope that helps!