nobody was present

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nobody was present" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that there were no people in a particular location or situation at a specific time. Example: "When the meeting started, nobody was present, so we decided to postpone it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Nobody was present, at the time, but they found traces of explosives and three suicide belts.

The New Yorker

She also checked the composition of the air in the room when nobody was present, as an extra control.

The Economist

I had just reached there but nobody was present".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

There was good community theater here, but nobody was presenting new or challenging works".

The New York Times

It's like when, at their coffeehouse, one of Enthusiasm's members rants about a rival group and points accusingly at another table, only to find that nobody is present.

The New Yorker

Through knowledge on room usage/occupancy, devices of a room can be turned off automatically if nobody is present.

EURASIP Journal on Embedded Systems

Extinguish candles if nobody is present to keep an eye on them.

WikiHow

This way, all the blinking lights, fascinating noises, and any chance of it working while nobody is present are completely removed.

WikiHow

Whenever you leave the room, ensure that your pets are out of it too, and shut the door so that they can't wander back in when nobody is present.

WikiHow

The conversation was in the office of Herr Puhl; nobody else was present.

Yale University

Since nobody else was present, the White House couldn't wheel out a witness — a McMaster, a Pence, or even a Reince Priebus — to knock down, or even to contextualize, the allegations.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nobody was present" to clearly and concisely state that no individuals were in a specific location or involved in a particular situation. Ensure the context makes it clear when and where this absence occurred.

Common error

Avoid using "nobody was present" when it could be misinterpreted as a lack of support or interest rather than physical absence. Be explicit if you mean that no one supported an idea or cause, instead of simply stating that they weren't physically there. For example, avoid saying "The proposal failed because nobody was present" and prefer "The proposal failed because no one supported it".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nobody was present" functions as a statement indicating the absence of individuals. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability. Examples show it being used to describe empty rooms, unattended scenes, and cancelled meetings, highlighting its descriptive function.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "nobody was present" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase indicating the absence of individuals. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and real-world examples show its use across various contexts, including news, science, and academia. While generally neutral in register, alternative phrasings might be preferred for increased formality. Remember to use the phrase to concisely state the absence of people, ensuring the context clearly defines the location and time of this absence. While uncommon, this phrase provides a clear and direct way to describe a situation where no one is present.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

no one was there

Replaces "nobody" with "no one" and "present" with "there", maintaining the same meaning.

there was no one present

Changes the sentence structure while retaining the original meaning.

no individuals were present

Substitutes "nobody" with the more formal "no individuals".

there were no people there

More explicit phrasing indicating the absence of people.

no one attended

Uses the verb "attended" to imply absence from an event or location.

the place was deserted

Describes the location as empty or abandoned.

all were absent

Formally states that everyone was absent.

the room was empty

Specifically refers to an empty room, implying the absence of people.

the location was unoccupied

Indicates that the location was not being used or inhabited at the time.

the area was clear

Suggests the absence of people from a specific area.

FAQs

What does "nobody was present" mean?

The phrase "nobody was present" indicates that there were no people at a specific location or involved in a particular event at a certain time. It simply states an absence of individuals.

What can I say instead of "nobody was present"?

You can use alternatives like "no one was there", "there was no one present", or "the room was empty" depending on the context.

Is "nobody was present" formal or informal?

"Nobody was present" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives such as "no individuals were present" could be preferred in certain situations.

How do I use "nobody was present" in a sentence?

You can use "nobody was present" to describe a scene or situation where there are no people. For example, "When the police arrived, nobody was present at the scene" or "The meeting was cancelled because nobody was present".