nothing of course

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nothing of course" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is obvious or expected, often in a conversational context. Example: "When it comes to his favorite food, he always chooses pizza, nothing of course."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Literature

General conversation

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Nothing, of course, except me".

The New York Times - Books

He did nothing, of course.

Independent

Nothing, of course, works without Q.

The New York Times - Books

One committee vote guarantees nothing, of course.

The New York Times

Croatia doesn't exactly have "nothing" of course.

Independent

(The storm had changed nothing, of course.

The New Yorker

It could be nothing, of course.

The Guardian - Sport

One radiotherapy treatment was nothing, of course.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

That guarantees nothing of course, especially in the Southeastern Conference.

The New York Times - Sports

I said nothing, of course; one does not boast.

The New Yorker

There was nothing, of course, requiring him to do so.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nothing of course" to subtly imply that a point is self-evident or requires no further elaboration, especially in informal writing or conversation.

Common error

Avoid using "nothing of course" excessively in formal writing, as it can come across as dismissive or condescending. Opt for more neutral alternatives like "obviously" or "naturally" in professional settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nothing of course" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to add emphasis or indicate something is obvious or expected. As Ludwig AI explains, it signals a shared understanding. It often conveys a sense of resignation or mild sarcasm, indicating that something is inevitable or unsurprising.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Literature

30%

General Conversation

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "nothing of course" is a common adverbial phrase used to indicate that something is obvious, expected, or unsurprising. Ludwig AI analysis shows it is prevalent in news, literature, and general conversation. While grammatically correct, it can come across as dismissive in formal writing, so careful consideration of the context is essential. Related phrases like "obviously" or "naturally" can provide more neutral alternatives in professional settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obviously

Single-word adverb conveying the same sense of being evident or easily understood, but lacks the conversational tone of "nothing of course".

naturally

Similar to 'obviously', indicating something is expected or follows logically, without the specific negation of "nothing of course".

needless to say

A more formal expression indicating that something is so obvious it doesn't require stating, unlike "nothing of course" which can also be used conversationally.

it goes without saying

Close in meaning to 'needless to say', but slightly more emphatic, differing from the more understated "nothing of course".

of course

Highlights what's expected or known. Removing "nothing" changes meaning to affirmation or agreement, instead of negation.

as expected

Focuses on the fulfillment of an expectation, lacking the conversational and sometimes dismissive tone of "nothing of course".

predictably

Similar to 'as expected', but implies a sense of inevitability or lack of surprise, making it less versatile than "nothing of course".

it stands to reason

More formal, suggesting a logical conclusion, whereas "nothing of course" can be more informal and conversational.

surely

Implies confidence in a belief or expectation, while "nothing of course" can also express resignation or irony.

certainly

Emphasizes the certainty of something, lacking the nuance of obviousness or resignation that "nothing of course" can convey.

FAQs

How can I use "nothing of course" in a sentence?

Use "nothing of course" to indicate that something is obvious, expected, or already understood by the listener or reader. For example: "He forgot his keys again, "nothing of course"".

What's a less informal way to say "nothing of course"?

In more formal contexts, you can replace "nothing of course" with alternatives like "obviously", "naturally", or "needless to say".

Is "of course nothing" grammatically correct?

While "of course nothing" might be understood, it's not idiomatic and sounds awkward. "Nothing of course" is the standard and grammatically preferred order.

What's the difference between "of course" and "nothing of course"?

"Of course" expresses agreement or affirmation, while "nothing of course" implies that something is so obvious that it almost doesn't need mentioning, often with a hint of resignation or irony.