Persons

Have you ever wondered why lifts (elevators) use the word “persons” and not “people” to denote a maximum load?

I asked an AI app. ChatGPT and received the following answer

Quote
“Great question — and the distinction between “persons” and “people” in that context is actually meaningful from a legal and technical standpoint.

Why “persons” is used:
• Precision in legal/technical language: “Persons” is often used in legal or formal contexts where individuals are counted distinctly. It emphasizes individual responsibility or capacity — which is important in liability, engineering, or regulatory matters.
• “Persons” implies discrete units: In an elevator, a sign like “Maximum 10 persons” clearly refers to 10 individual human beings, each considered a separate weight load. This fits better with safety regulations and design specifications.

Why not “people”?
• “People” is more general and collective: It can refer to a group collectively, not necessarily emphasizing the individuals as separate units. It’s also more casual and conversational.
• For example, you might say “There were a lot of people at the party,” but if you need an exact count for safety (as in an elevator), “persons” is more appropriate.

Summary:

In elevators, “persons” is used because it’s more specific, formal, and legally precise for stating limits related to weight and safety.”

End quote

Incidentally, I asked ChatGPT if I could quote the answer without violating the ChatGPT copyright, and the answer was an overwhelming YES as long as I observed some principles which I have! (Attribution and not claiming the answer as my work)