anybody

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "anybody" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to any person or individual, often in a general or informal context. Example: "If anybody has questions about the project, please feel free to ask."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Does anybody care?

The New York Times - Arts

"I don't think anybody should be president of the United States that made that mistake," he said.

The Guardian

The national interest should never be subject to the chequebooks of anybody".

The Guardian

Next, for all anybody knows, it'll be Google, removing all of the internet except for a Google map of your nearest polling station.

The Guardian

"This is not a situation in which we are rifling through the ordinary emails of German citizens or American citizens or French citizens or anybody else," he said.

The Guardian

"People are not getting help, and when you're not getting help you don't want to vote for anybody".

The Guardian

Nick Hopkinson of Property Portfolio Rescue, which buys houses from distressed buy-to-let borrowers, describes the Nationwide's reported increase as a "statistical blip" which would "not fool anybody who is struggling to sell their home or obtain realistic mortgage finance in the real world".

The Guardian - Business

"I've been on those sands man and boy … What happened that night was not only awful beyond words – it was absolutely avoidable … Even when the tide hit them, had they had anybody with them, like me, who knows the area, there was still a safe route off the cockle bed … They could have walked to safety".

The Guardian - Opinion

The researchers conducting the drug trials opted to give the treatments to all patients who want them, with the support of a World Health Organisation ethics committee, which decided that the death rate was so high it would be unethical to deprive anybody of a drug that might work.

The Guardian

He insists he will not engage in any in-your-face evangelising, disturbing those who go to the pub for a quiet pint on a Monday: "I'm not looking to bother anybody.

The Guardian

The easiest thing in the game is to defend, anybody can do that.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "anybody" in questions, ensure the question is open-ended and seeks to include all possible individuals. For example, "Does anybody have any questions?" is inclusive.

Common error

Don't use "anybody" when you actually mean a specific person or group. For instance, instead of asking "Did anybody see me?" to a friend, say "Did you see me?".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "anybody" is as an indefinite pronoun, referring to any person without specifying who. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in this manner, as shown in various examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "anybody" is a common and grammatically correct indefinite pronoun used to refer to any person. As shown by Ludwig, it is most frequently found in News & Media contexts. While generally interchangeable with "anyone", "anybody" carries a slightly more informal tone. The Ludwig AI confirms its general correctness and widespread usage in various scenarios. When writing, ensure you're not using "anybody" when you actually intend to refer to a specific person, to avoid potential ambiguity. Alternatives include phrases like "any person" or "any individual", which can be used for a more formal tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

anyone

This is the most direct synonym, generally interchangeable with "anybody".

any person

A more formal and explicit way of saying "anybody".

any individual

Similar to "any person" but emphasizes the distinctness of each person.

no one

Expresses the opposite meaning, referring to the absence of a person.

someone

Refers to a specific but unidentified person, less general than "anybody".

everyone

Refers to all people, a broader scope than "anybody".

each person

Focuses on individuality within a group, similar to "any individual" but less formal.

a person

A general reference to a single person, less inclusive than "anybody".

one person

Similar to "a person" but emphasizes singularity.

whosoever

An archaic and formal equivalent to "anybody".

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use "anybody" instead of "anyone"?

"Anybody" and "anyone" are generally interchangeable, but "anybody" is often considered slightly more informal. Choose based on the desired tone of your writing.

Is "anybody" singular or plural?

"Anybody" is singular and takes a singular verb. For example, "Is anybody home?" not "Are anybody home?"

What's the difference between "anybody" and "nobody"?

"Anybody" refers to any person at all, while "nobody" means not anyone or no person at all. They have opposite meanings.

Can I use "anybody" in formal writing?

While acceptable, "anyone" or "any person" might be preferred in highly formal contexts to maintain a more professional tone.