nothing amiss

USAGE SUMMARY

"nothing amiss" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate that everything is fine or as expected, often in response to a concern or inquiry. For example: "After checking the report, I found nothing amiss." Alternative expressions include "everything is fine" and "all is well."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Reference

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Ray saw nothing amiss in it.

The New Yorker

I see nothing amiss or unusual.

The New Yorker

Finding nothing amiss, the owner continues her meandering path towards us.

Independent

From the rhythms and vocabulary, you'd think that there was nothing amiss at all.

The Guardian - Books

In the end I saw nothing amiss in the engine bay and was glad when the ride was over.

The New York Times

She noticed nothing amiss, but I was alarmed by his unintentional exposure.

The New York Times

After she made a quick tour and saw nothing amiss, she went back to sleep.

The New Yorker

Nothing amiss was found then, but this time a new chief financial officer made a startling discovery.

The New York Times

Even the Guardian found nothing amiss in running a story about this and not quoting anyone who currently sells sex.

The Guardian - Opinion

Referee Brendan Moore spotted nothing amiss, and Fu showed no sign of having noticed he nudged the ball.

The Guardian - Sport

They got themselves so far in … pretending there was nothing amiss with Savile, they had to keep maintaining that myth".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with sensory or cognitive verbs like "find", "see", "notice" or "sense" to describe an empirical observation.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase to describe people's character in a general sense; it is better suited for specific situations, behaviors or physical environments. Do not use it as a direct substitute for "correct" when referring to a mathematical or factual answer.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nothing amiss" functions primarily as a predicative phrase or an object complement. It is typically preceded by verbs of observation (find, see, sense, notice). According to Ludwig, it serves to negate any presence of error or irregularity in a specific state of affairs.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Reference

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Science

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The expression "nothing amiss" is a robust and sophisticated way to indicate that everything is as it should be. Ludwig AI analysis shows that it is exceptionally common in high-tier journalism and professional reporting. It is most effective when used to describe the results of an inspection or a sensory observation where no faults were found. Compared to simpler alternatives like "nothing wrong", it carries a more analytical and polished tone. Overall, it is a versatile phrase that functions well across news, business and literary registers, providing a clear and standard way to confirm the absence of irregularities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nothing wrong

More common in everyday speech and less formal than the original phrase.

nothing unusual

Focuses specifically on the lack of strange or unexpected elements.

nothing out of the ordinary

A slightly longer, idiomatic way to emphasize that everything is normal.

everything is fine

A broader, more general statement of a positive or stable status.

nothing suspicious

Adds a connotation of safety or lack of criminal/malicious activity.

no irregularities

Much more formal and technical, often used in auditing or legal contexts.

all in order

Suggests that things are organized and following the expected rules.

nothing out of place

Focuses on visual or physical arrangements being correct.

no cause for concern

Shifts the focus to the psychological state of the observer.

everything as it should be

Implies a comparison against a perfect or standard model.

FAQs

How to use "nothing amiss" in a sentence?

You can use it as a predicative complement, usually after verbs of perception. For example, a journalist might write that inspectors checked the site and found "nothing amiss".

What can I say instead of "nothing amiss"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "nothing wrong", "nothing unusual" or "all is well".

Is "nothing amiss" considered formal English?

Yes, it is widely used in high-quality publications like The New York Times and The Economist. If you need a more technical business alternative, consider using "no irregularities".

What is the difference between "nothing amiss" and "nothing wrong"?

While both mean everything is fine, the former is often more observational. While "nothing wrong" is common in casual speech, the phrase is frequently preferred in professional reporting to indicate a lack of visible faults.