Cool MateNobody vs There's no one
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Nobody
Top 1,000 (very common)A1pronoun
There's no one
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Nobody
| Nobody | There's no one | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈnəʊbədi/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈnəʊbədi/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðeəz nəʊ wʌn//🇺🇸 //ðɛrz noʊ wʌn// |
| Meaning | no person; not anyone | No person is present. |
| Example | Nobody knew what to say. | When I arrived at the party, I realized there's no one there. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | pronoun | |
| Collocations | nobody knows, nobody cares, nobody's perfect | no one home, there's no one else, no one to talk to |
| Antonyms | somebody, someone | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'no one' — they are similar but not interchangeable in all contexts., Using 'nobody' in the plural form, which is incorrect. | Confused with 'there is no one'., Using it in a formal context when a more specific phrase is needed. |
| Usage notes | Use 'nobody' when you're talking about a lack of people. It's neutral and can be used in most contexts, but avoid it in very formal writing or speeches. | Used to indicate emptiness or lack of presence. Suitable for both spoken and written contexts. Avoid in very formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Nobody vs There's no one
What's the difference between Nobody and There's no one?
Nobody: no person; not anyone There's no one: No person is present.
Which is more common: Nobody and There's no one?
Nobody is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Nobody: Nobody knew what to say. There's no one: When I arrived at the party, I realized there's no one there.
Can I use Nobody and There's no one interchangeably?
Not always. Nobody and There's no one are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.