Can people be counted, and if so, is it _"the amount of people" or "the number of people"?

”...the number of…” would be most accurate. ”
”...the amount of people…” could be seen as one, a couple, a few, some, a hoard, many, quite a few, a bunch, scads, a multitude, an indeterminate amount, etc.

Numbers for living people.
Amount for dead mounds of humans, by the ton.

It’s number or groups, tribes, platoons, etc. it depends on whether you are talking about individual persons or their groups.

Two platoons were assigned to patrol the area.

Six people are missing.

People often misuse words. “Amount of people” is incorrect. “Number of people” is correct.

Generally speaking, number is used for anything measured in discrete units, and amount for things that usually measured using a continuous scale. Number of people and amount of sugar or amount of land.

It depends on the language. Which language are you referring to?

“Amount” and “number” are both commonly used with the word “people”, but more formally, “amount” is used with mass nouns, like “sugar” or “water”, nouns that cannot be counted (i.e. you cannot place a number before them). You can, however, count people, i.e. you can say “four people”, therefore, “number of people” is more appropriate.

@kritiper Re. the second part of your post, it is still number of people isn’t? I mean we use the crowd, ..., bunch etc., of people because we don’t have the exact number. Re. the size of the crowd, (say 3 blocks long 5 deep will get us an approximate number.
@Zaku then A mound is an amount yes, but not the persons, right?
@snowberry I agree with your last statement, but I don’t think you mean “it depends on whether you are talking about individual persons or their groups.” since a platton can be counted, so can a tribe, a group.
@LostInParadise Yes,. I’ve always heard “size of land” and how many (acres etc.) of land.

@ScienceChick English.

@Demosthenes Yes some people do say “amount of people”, and it’s lately. It is not as bad as “Can you learn me how to…”, but it is incorrect. Aren’t there words/terms that are informal but not incorrect? I think so, I just can’t think of an example right this minute.

Edited above, but not for substance.

…Actually it’s editted to add too, I responded to 2 more people

@flo Grammatically speaking, yes, but I think it comes down to how you think about the people. If I’m thinking about individual people, I use a number – one per each. But if I’m thinking of their mass or volume, then that could be an amount.

But yeah, usually that would involve using another word, unless the context had been established. If we’ve been talking about passenger or meat weight of people, then it seems to me the phrase “amount of people” might get used, maybe, though it might not be formally correct even then.

@flo “Number” is very specific.
“Amount,” not so much… and I did say “could be.”

All I know is it’s all about the grammar if someone is asking which is correct. Just imagine teaching a 5 yr. old.

You simply speak correctly around them, and when they’re old enough to understand, you discuss it and explain. But a five-year-old wouldn’t likely use “amount” anyway. That’s too big of a word, and too advanced for the average five-year-old’s vocabulary.

@snowberry Amount vs. number, too big for a 5 yr. old? It’s piece of cake for a 5 yr. old. It’s clear cut. By the way what would you sayis old enough? Older people get too many occasions to hear the incorrect usage.
“discuss, ....explain when they are old enough“_ are reserved for words like these:
https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/75-incorrectly-used-words-that-can-make-you-look-dumb.html

Even in the list in the above link there are 2 at least “advice and advise” , and “bring and take”

@flo The age doesn’t matter. A person will only learn according to their ability. Your average five-year-old does not use a word like “amount“.

At that age they just don’t use that level of vocabulary, and in general they don’t think like that. Haven’t you been around little kids enough to understand this?

They might say, “I want more,” or “how much,“ or “a big bunch,” or “a lot of,” etc.

I looked at your link. All good points to make to adults, and people old enough to care! No five-year-old is going to sit still for instructional along those lines!

@snowberry The 5 yr. old thing maybe debatable.
-First you said 5 is too young and then you say age doesn’t matter.
-Whether or not the average 5 yr. old would find it interesting is also debatable. It depends if it’s a good teacher, parent, ..
-Who said anything about “to sit still” or “instructional”?
Difference between bring and take is for adult?
“A person will only learn according to their ability.” Yes, but who helps them raise their ability? Whoever is around them.

@snowberry You said it it your 1st post, it’s clear cut:
_*People often misuse words. “Amount of people” is incorrect.Number of people” is correct.”

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