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Hrsanei Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Body versus one

Hi.

Is there any difference between body and one in phrases like;

Nobody- no one, Anybody-Any one, somebody- Some one, every body-every one.

Thanks
  

Top answer

No. Those with -one may be heard by native speakers as just slightly more formal than those with -body , but the difference is insignificant. The two groups are in free variation both in everyday conversation and in formal writing.

— CalifJim

  • No.
  • Those with -one may be heard by native speakers as just slightly more formal than those with -body , but the difference is insignificant.
  • The two groups are in free variation both in everyday conversation and in formal writing.
  • CJ
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3 Answers
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No. Those with -one may be heard by native speakers as just slightly more formal than those with -body, but the difference is insignificant. The two groups are in free variation both in everyday conversation and in formal writing.

CJ
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Hi Jim. Thanks for your reply.

You are right. Having checked several grammar references, I couldn't find any differences between two.

But still there are some sentences in which one of them fits better. I have brought the following sentences, please tell me how they sound to your ear.

Ex. He is someone you like to go out with. (somebody does not sound Ok here to me)
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hrsaneiEx. He is someone you like to go out with.
Ex. You shouldn't date with someone you have met online.
Ex. Someone might think that you are crazy.
They all sound fine to me whether with 'someone' or 'somebody'. The last one seems especially idiomatic to me with 'somebody'.

Somebody might think you're crazy!

(It
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