"People" and "Persons": The Difference?

Question

What, exactly, is the difference between "people" and "persons"? I read in another post that "the" cannot be used before "persons." This particular person said that "the" implies singularity; I, um, didn't know that. So, saying "the persons in this room" would be incorrect?

Answer 1

No, it wouldn't be incorrect, but "people" would probably sound better. "The" does not imply singularity. It is simply the definite article, implying a degree of specificity. A cat = any old cat. The cat = a specific cat.As to the difference between "people" and "persons", people is more general.
You see signs in lifts (elevators ) like no more than four persons. That's somehow more precise. Hope this helps.