English-speaking people(s)

hirashin

Sempai

Donor

8 Apr 2004

2,721

63

• 1 Dec 2017

• #1

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

 

lanthas

　

27 Apr 2014

940

243

• 1 Dec 2017

• #2

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.

Click to expand...

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.

 

Stavecrow

Registered

2 Sep 2017

15

0

• 2 Dec 2017

• #3

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'

 

hirashin

Sempai

Donor

8 Apr 2004

2,721

63

• 3 Dec 2017

• Thread starter
• #4

Thanks for the help, Lanthas and Stavecrow.

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