somebody

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "somebody" is a correct and usable word in written English
You can use the word "somebody" to refer to an unspecified or unidentified person. Example sentence: "Somebody left their wallet behind on the bus."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"There will be some circumstances in which it's right for public bodies, for example at the border, at airport security, to say there is a practical necessity for asking somebody to remove a veil.

The Guardian

"Perhaps not everyone's priority is having a 'beach body' (by the way, what is that?), and making somebody feel guilty for not prioritising it by questioning their personal choices is a step too far.

The Guardian

Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive.

The New York Times

"It was important for us to have somebody who had the drive, ambition and commitment to work as hard as it takes to take the club forward.

The Guardian - Sport

He also denies giving the Ukip candidate the anti-Labour leaflet, though the Conservative party admits that the leaflet came from somebody working in the constituency's Conservative campaign and said they were investigating.

The Guardian

Almost as if somebody knew that Channel 4 would be running a documentary series on the subject.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Asked by the operator if he was saying he had killed somebody, he replied simply: "Yes, I am".

The Guardian

Can somebody show me concrete numbers on that?

The Guardian

"If they have been killed by somebody then it's brought a whole load of nonsense on top of everybody's head that we don't need".

The Guardian

"Somebody said one song sounded like Jim Morrison," says Fassbender, "but then the next one sounded like the Sex Pistols.

The Guardian - Film

Somebody who was there to have fun and a giggle.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "somebody" and "someone" are mostly interchangeable, opt for "someone" in very formal academic papers to align with traditional stylistic preferences.

Common error

Writers sometimes mistakenly use plural verbs with "somebody" because it can conceptually refer to multiple people. However, grammatically, it is always singular. Correct: '"somebody" has left their keys.' Incorrect: '"somebody" have left their keys.'

Linguistic Context

As a compound indefinite pronoun, "somebody" functions as a placeholder for an unidentified or unspecified human agent. According to Ludwig AI, it serves as a subject or object in a wide variety of sentence structures, ranging from simple observations to complex legal or journalistic reports.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

92%

Lifestyle

4%

Sport

2%

Less common in

Science

1%

Academia

0.5%

Wiki

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "somebody" is an essential pronoun in the English language used to refer to an unspecified person. Analysis from Ludwig AI shows that it is Very common in high-authority news sources and is almost entirely interchangeable with "someone". Writers should remember that it is always grammatically singular, requiring verbs like "is" or "has". Beyond its role as a pronoun, it can also function as a noun to signify a person of status. Whether you are writing a casual email or a formal report for a publication like The New York Times, "somebody" is a correct and reliable choice for identifying unidentified individuals.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

someone

Often considered slightly more formal or preferred in written prose, though practically interchangeable.

anybody

Used to refer to any person at all, whereas "somebody" usually implies one specific but unknown person.

some person

Can sound more specific or occasionally dismissive depending on the tone.

a person

A more literal and noun-based approach to identifying an individual.

one

A highly formal or generic pronoun often used in academic or legal contexts.

an individual

Adds a level of clinical or legal formality to the reference.

whoever

Shifts focus to the identity of the person being irrelevant or unknown.

a soul

A more poetic or emphatic way to refer to a human being.

everyone

Refers to all people in a group rather than a single unspecified person.

nobody

The negative counterpart used to denote the absence of any person.

FAQs

What is the difference between "somebody" and "someone"?

There is virtually no difference in meaning. However, ""someone"" is often perceived as slightly more formal and is more common in formal writing, while "somebody" is more frequent in spoken English and casual contexts.

Is "somebody" singular or plural?

It is grammatically singular. Even though it refers to an unspecified person, you should always use singular verbs (e.g. ""somebody" is" rather than ""somebody" are").

What can I say instead of "somebody"?

You can use alternatives like ""someone"", "an individual", or "a person" depending on the context.

When should I use "anybody" instead of "somebody"?

Use "anybody" in questions or negative sentences, and "somebody" in affirmative sentences. For example: 'Is there anybody there?' versus '"somebody" is at the door.'