Understanding Nobody and No One

Difference Between “Nobody” and “No one”

Sometimes, we want to say that there are zero people doing something or zero people present. We use the words “nobody” and “no one” for this reason. Let’s learn more about each one.

History

The words “nobody” and “no one” have been around for a long time in the English language. Both are used to talk about zero people. There is no big difference in meaning, but sometimes their usage can be slightly different.

How to Use “Nobody”

“Nobody” is used to mean not a single person. It is one word.

• Nobody wants to go to the park today.
• Nobody is at school during summer.
• I called for help, but nobody answered.
• Nobody knows the answer to my question.
• Nobody can run faster than him.

How to Use “No one”

“No one” also means not a single person. It is written as two words.

• No one likes to be sick.
• She asked a question, but no one replied.
• No one was in the room when I arrived.
• No one understands this difficult problem.
• No one has seen that movie yet.

Trick to Remember the Difference

Both words mean the same thing, but remember that “nobody” is one word, and “no one” is two words. If you can write two words, you can use “no one.” If you want to use one word, you can choose “nobody.”

Summary

“Nobody” and “no one” both mean that zero people. Use “nobody” when you want one word, and “no one” when you want two words. Both are correct, so choose the one you like best.