anything whatsoever

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "anything whatsoever" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the totality or completeness of something, often in a negative context to indicate that there is no exception. Example: "I don't want anything whatsoever to do with that project after the way it was handled."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

No bands are saying anything whatsoever".

The Guardian - Music

They don't change anything whatsoever on the ground".

The New York Times

Can we know that we know anything whatsoever?

University of California, Berkeley

We had never heard anything whatsoever toward that.

The New Yorker

I had no sensitivities to anyone or anything whatsoever.

The Guardian

Honestly, do you understand anything whatsoever about technology?

The New Yorker

"If they run into anything whatsoever, they call me".

The New York Times

Perhaps, to change anything whatsoever at the P.O.B., some breakage was required.

The New Yorker

"He is not in violation of anything whatsoever," Lamoriello said of Kovalchuk.

The New York Times - Sports

Or say anything whatsoever about religion, outside the privacy of church, synagogue or home.

The New York Times

Whether its return will have any impact on anything whatsoever remains to be seen.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "anything whatsoever" to add emphasis when you want to express a complete lack of something or to highlight the totality of a statement. It's particularly effective in negative constructions.

Common error

Avoid using "anything whatsoever" in simple sentences where a more concise expression like "anything at all" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "anything whatsoever" functions as an intensifier, amplifying the meaning of "anything". It typically appears in negative or interrogative contexts to emphasize a complete absence or lack of something, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "anything whatsoever" is a grammatically sound and frequently used intensifier phrase that serves to emphasize a complete lack or absence of something. As noted by Ludwig, it's widely employed across various contexts, from news and media to academic and scientific writing. While effective for emphasis, it's advisable to avoid overuse in simple sentences to maintain clarity and conciseness. Alternatives like "anything at all" or "absolutely anything" can be suitable substitutes depending on the desired level of emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

anything at all

More common and slightly less formal.

absolutely anything

Highlights the absoluteness of the statement.

anything whatsoever at all

More verbose and emphasizes totality even more.

anything of any kind

Emphasizes variety but with the same underlying meaning.

any possible thing

Emphasizes the existence of a remote possibility.

anything in the slightest

Focuses on a minimal degree or amount.

anything conceivable

Highlights the limit of imagination.

anything whatsoever else

Adds the concept of alternatives to "anything whatsoever".

anything under the sun

Idiomatic way of saying 'absolutely anything'.

something at all

Broader term than "anything" indicating a possibility.

FAQs

How can I use "anything whatsoever" in a sentence?

Use "anything whatsoever" to emphasize a complete lack of something or to highlight the totality of a statement, typically in negative contexts. For example: "I don't want "anything whatsoever" to do with that project."

What phrases can I use instead of "anything whatsoever"?

You can use alternatives such as "anything at all", "absolutely anything", or "anything of any kind" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "anything at all" and "anything whatsoever"?

"Anything whatsoever" is a stronger, more emphatic way of saying "anything at all". While both express a lack of something, "anything whatsoever" adds extra emphasis.

Is "anything whatsoever" formal or informal?

"Anything whatsoever" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's more commonly found in formal writing or speech where emphasis is desired.