Is the canon ef s 17 55mm f 2 8 is usm good for portraits?

Here is what the site says about that.

From Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM: Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM: A zoom lens by Canon for APS-C cameras, 17-55mm f/2.8. The constant f/2.8 standard zoom for Canon's APS-C DSLRs. Specs - Maker: Canon - Focal length: 17-55mm (zoom) - Maximum aperture: f/2.8 - Made for: APS-C sensors - Mounts: Canon EF - Stabilised: yes - Autofocus: yes What it frames like - On APS-C (Canon) (Canon EF): like 27-88mm on full frame; f/2.8 gives about the depth of field of ...

From Portraits: The lenses: - 50mm f/1.8. The cheapest great lens in photography, made for almost every mount. On full frame it's a natural, slightly tight view; on APS-C it behaves like a classic 75-80mm portrait lens. If you buy one lens for people, buy this. - 85mm f/1.8. The classic full-frame portrait lens: flattering perspective, soft backgrounds, comfortable working distance. On APS-C, a 56mm f/1.2 to f/1.4 plays the same role. - 35mm ...

Quoted from this site's pages.