no one suspects

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "no one suspects" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that nobody has any suspicion or doubt about a particular situation or person. Example: "Despite the strange occurrences, no one suspects that he is behind it all."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

It would be a pretty good idea to answer this with a "no," one suspects, although if you were a Nazi you would be pretty old by now and not likely to travel.

Huffington Post

If you want to make sure no one suspects, write some other, unimportant stuff on the other side of the paper in regular ink or pencil.

WikiHow

No one suspects, no one knows.

The New Yorker

But no one suspects that Elian is here illegally.

The New York Times

"No one suspects that the U.S. government was involved in the deaths," Mr. Zaid said.

The New York Times

No one thought Busby wanted McGuinness to fail, and no one suspects that of Ferguson.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Therefore, no one suspected, on epidemiologic and clinical grounds, that she had a rickettsiosis that was different from MSF.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

I feared the base rumor mill turning on us, but no one suspected a popular married officer to want a nerdy lieutenant viewed as everyone's kid sister.

The New York Times

Everything went as planned, and he got me home on time, so no one suspected anything.

Huffington Post

"The Farc really wanted to recruit [girls] for this reason, because no-one suspects a little girl.

BBC

The Asian criminals deal with fixing the gambling market by placing bets in such a way that no-one suspects the games are fixed.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "no one suspects" to create a sense of dramatic irony, where the audience knows something the characters do not.

Common error

Avoid using "no one suspects" as a lazy plot device. Ensure there's a plausible reason why characters remain unaware, rather than simply stating it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "no one suspects" primarily functions as a declarative statement. It asserts a state of unawareness or lack of suspicion within a group. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability, as evidenced by the various examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "no one suspects" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to denote a lack of suspicion or awareness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate across various contexts, as evidenced by its frequent appearance in news articles, encyclopedias, and even scientific literature. While its versatility is a strength, avoid overuse or relying on it as a simplistic plot device. Instead, consider alternative expressions like "nobody is suspicious" or "no one is aware" to nuance your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nobody is suspicious

Replaces "no one" with "nobody" and uses the adjective "suspicious" instead of the verb "suspects", maintaining a very similar meaning.

no one is aware

Focuses on the lack of awareness rather than suspicion, implying that something is happening without anyone knowing.

no one is onto it

Uses a more informal idiom to convey that no one has discovered or realized something.

it is not suspected by anyone

Rephrases the sentence in the passive voice, emphasizing that the suspicion is absent from everyone.

no one has a clue

Emphasizes a complete lack of knowledge or understanding.

it escapes everyone's notice

Shifts the focus to the action escaping notice rather than the lack of suspicion.

it's under the radar

Implies that something is happening discreetly, avoiding detection.

no one is looking into it

Highlights the lack of investigation or scrutiny.

the secret is safe

Focuses on the security of the secret rather than the lack of suspicion.

nobody knows the truth

Emphasizes the unknown nature of the truth rather than the absence of suspicion.

FAQs

What does "no one suspects" mean?

It means that nobody has any feeling or belief that something is the case, especially something bad or dishonest.

What are some alternatives to "no one suspects"?

You can use alternatives like "nobody is suspicious", "no one is aware", or "no one is onto it" depending on the context.

How can I use "no one suspects" in a sentence?

For example: "I spend my days answering phones in a bank lobby, so "no one suspects" that I'm doing anything but work."

Is "no one suspects" grammatically correct?

Yes, "no one suspects" is grammatically correct. "No one" is a singular pronoun, so it takes the singular verb form "suspects".