LoginAnybody vs. Anyone
When should we use 'anybody' versus 'anyone'? What is their difference? Are they have the same meaning? Let's find out!
What Is Their Main Difference?
Both 'anyone' and 'anybody' can refer to any one of the people in a group. They are indefinite pronouns for unspecified individuals. The main difference is formality: 'anyone' is more formal and commonly found in formal contexts, while 'anybody' is informal and used in spoken language.
'Anyone'
'Anyone" is an indefinite pronoun that refers to an unspecified or unknown person. It is used to indicate that any person, regardless of identity or number, is included in the statement or question. Here are some examples:
Does
As you can see, 'anyone' is grammatically is singular word.
Is
Is there
'Anybody'
'Anybody' is also an indefinite pronoun that serves a similar purpose to 'anyone.' It refers to an unspecified or unknown person and is used to indicate that any person, singular or plural, is included. For example:
Does
As you can see, 'anybody' is also a singular word grammatically.
Is there
'They' Referring back to Anyone/Anybody
In a sentence where we have used indefinite pronouns like 'anyone' or 'anybody', and we do not know if the person is man or woman, we often use the plural pronoun 'they' to refer back to them.
If
Negative Marker
'Anyone' and 'anybody' are not negative markers, i.e. they do not have a negative meaning on their own.
I don't want to see I want to see anyone)
Level of Formality
The main and important difference between them is their level of formality. 'Anyone' is a bit more formal than 'anybody'. 'Anyone' is used more in writing and more formal styles than 'anybody'.
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