Navigate Lingo

All confusables

Staff / Staff member / staff members

Usage

Use staff for the workforce collectively and staff member when referring to one person. Use staff members when a precise count matters.

Staff

Use when

You mean the employees of an organisation collectively.

Example

“Staff were briefed before the service announcement.”

Staff member / staff members

Use when

You are counting or referring to individual employees.

Example

“Three staff members will support the event.”

Quick check

a staff, each staff, every staff, three staffs

Usage note

Staffs can be correct when referring to separate groups of employees, such as the staffs of two agencies. It is usually not the plural for individual employees.

Source checked 2026-08-11 (opens in a new tab)