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English-speaking people(s)

hirashin

Sempai
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8 Apr 2004
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Dear native English speakers,
which would sound correct?
(a) The Encyclopedia Britannica is probably the best known work for English-speaking people. It first appeared in Scotland.
(b) The Encyclopedia Britannica is probably the best known work for English-speaking peoples. It first appeared in Scotland.

Thanks in advance.
Hirashin
 
Definitely the first one. "Peoples" is the plural of the singular noun "people", which is defined as
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/people?s=t said:
the entire body of persons who constitute a community, tribe, nation, or other group by virtue of a common culture, history, religion, or the like: the people of Australia; the Jewish people.
In other words, b) would be like saying the encyclopedia is only for people from English-speaking countries, whereas a) includes all people who speak English, regardless of where they live.
 
Both are technically fine I think
'A' sounds more modern English, but you could also add "the" before "English" on either.

But that may be because the sentence reminds me personally of Churchill's book:
'A History of the English-Speaking Peoples'
 
Thanks for the help, Lanthas and Stavecrow.

I didn't know you can say "English-speaking peoples".
 
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