Does "individuals" sounds more formal than "people?" If so, would it be more appropriate to say "individuals" on formal occasions?

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

It's similar, yes, but! "Individuals" emphasizes singular people, rather than as a whole. So, saying "people" may just mean a group or many people in general, but "individual" emphasizes each person in particular. A good synonym here would also be "each person," but you're right, "individual" does sound a little more formal! Ex: I got everyone individual presents. => One each Ex: Each person had something to say. => Here, you couldn't use "individual." Ex: I supervise individuals in the company.

How do native speakers use this expression?

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Popular Q&As

12/17

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