What is the difference between using anybody/nobody or anyone/no one?
I have found myself using both.
Thanks,
Ed
I have found myself using both.
Thanks,
Ed
Anybody? Anyone?
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There's no difference as far as I know. Anybody and anyone are interchangeable I think, as are nobody and no-one. There may be some contextual considerations, where a character, when addressing an audience, might use the phrase: "No one here amongst us would hesitate...." as opposed to: "Nobody here would hesitate......" The former being perhaps a little more personal. Now I await being shot down by those more adept at English than I LOL!
I was taught that anybody, somebody, everybody, and nobody were casual and that anyone, someone, everyone, and no one were more correct.
But that was a very long time ago. I haven't really noticed whether that is still a common distinction.
But that was a very long time ago. I haven't really noticed whether that is still a common distinction.
They mean the same thing.
To my ear 'anybody' is more robust. I'd have my male character say and think 'anybody'. I'd have a prissy, female character with formal speech patterns say 'anyone'.
To my ear 'anybody' is more robust. I'd have my male character say and think 'anybody'. I'd have a prissy, female character with formal speech patterns say 'anyone'.
I find myself wondering about the entomology etymology of these words, and asking a George-Carlin-like question, why isn't there an equivalent word anymind?
Good point job. Anybody is used by men and anyone is used by women.
I think the key to using dialog is that is should sound authentic, not grammatically correct.
And forget what I said about using both words.
I think the key to using dialog is that is should sound authentic, not grammatically correct.
And forget what I said about using both words.
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Wow, that is so not my experience!
I'm more of FennelGiraffe's school that "anybody" seems a bit more casual than "anyone". I'd probably have a park ranger, male or female, say "anybody", and a high school principal, male or female, say "anyone".
I don't think so. I stick to "anyone" or "no one," except when it comes to dialogue in fiction writing.
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I use whichever I think fits best in the flow of my sentence. The '-body' words have an extra syllable which sometimes makes them feel clumsy. I honestly don't think there's any difference in usage patterns that I've noticed. Certainly not along gender lines.
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To me the "-body" words are different from the "-one" words, but I can't really tell you how I know. There are times when I would use one over another because it sounds right -- maybe it has to do with cadence. The lyrics "everybody finds me somebody to love..." doesn't quite work as "everyone finds me someone to love." 
Exactly.
Less a male/female thingum than a robust, forceful, and downright versus precise and finicky thingum.
In my case, those roles sorted out one way in gender.
Another time, they might sort just opposite.
But the anybody/anyone and somebody/someone choice are useful word pairs when we're building voice.
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I recommend "Essential Mafia Dialogue 101" by I.M.A. Snitch. Ain't nobody gonna argue with dat guy.
-Derek
-Derek
That's the one that showed up on the Publisher's doorstep, unfinished, soaking wet, with the cement drips on it? Published posthumously?
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