Grammar 10 min read

Noone or No One: Is It One Word or Two?

Is it no-one or no one? Or, noone? In this guide, you’ll discover the difference between noone, no one, no-one, and nobody. Plus, you’ll see the best example sentences and explore synonyms you can use instead of these indefinite pronouns.

Main Noone or No One Takeaways:

  • The correct way to spell no one is with two words.
  • Noone is a common misspelling of no one. It’s never correct.
  • No-one with a hyphen is a variant of no one. It’s technically correct in some contexts, but it isn’t commonly used. No one is always correct.
  • Nobody is a more informal version of no one.
Noonewanted the last slice of pizza.
I asked if anyone wanted the the last slice of pizza, but no one did.
Nobody wanted to eat another bite.
noone or no one
No one is an indefinite pronoun that means no person. Meanwhile, noone is a common misspelling of no one. It’s never correct.

Which is Correct: No One or Noone?

The correct spelling is no one (two words). Noone is a common misspelling of no one. While no-one with a hyphen might be an acceptable variant in some situations, no one as two separate words is always correct. For this reason, we recommend always spelling no one as two words without the hyphen.

Is it No-one or No one?

You may see no one expressed with a hyphen as no-one. Notwithstanding, this variant isn’t common in modern English. Still, it does make rare appearances. However, it should not be used when writing out the phrase no one person. Instead, to ensure you always spell no one correctly, use two separate words. This is the optimal spelling. In this way,noone” is never an acceptable spelling of no one.

When it came to politics, James listened tono-onebut Judy.
When it came to politics, James listened tono-oneperson.
When it came to politics, James listened tonoonebut Judy.
When it came to politics, James listened tono oneperson.

What is Noone?

Noone (one word) is a misspelling of the indefinite pronoun no one (two words). Instead, no one spelled with two words and without a hyphen is always correct. Just like its less formal synonym nobody, the word no one means “no person” (No one/Nobody is home).

📝 No one is an indefinite pronoun that means no person.

Why Do People Write “Noone” Instead of “No One”?

There are two main reasons why some people spell no one as noone.” First, and the most obvious reason, is that they simply don’t know that noone is an incorrect spelling. Second, words with two consecutive ‘Os‘ or ‘oo‘ are commonly known to have single phonemes. Take for instance the following words:

  • neighborhood
  • book
  • foot
  • hood
  • food

Always keep in mind, noone is not a word. Don’t get confused because its antonym “anyone” is spelled as one word. Or because “nobody,”“nowhere,” and “nothing” are also spelled as single terms. The correct indefinite pronoun is no one.”

Is No one the Same as None?

While there is some overlap, the indefinite pronoun no one is not exactly the same as none. On one hand, no one refers to people only (No one responded to the question). On the other hand, none can refer to people and inanimate objects.

The courier knocked and knocked, but no one answered the door.
I was expecting to receive several packages today, but none of them arrived.
The activist hoped the students would volunteer to help with the charity event, but none did.
The activist hoped the students would volunteer to help with the charity event, but no one did.

📝 No One Meaning:

  • No one expresses the absence of people.
  • It means no person or not anyone.
  • This pronoun is commonly misspelled as noone.
A professor looking confused after seeinA professor looking confused after entering an empty classroom. He's asking himself "Why is there no one here?"
Nobody is a more informal version of no one.

How do you use no one in a Sentence?

Here are examples of how to use no one in a sentence:

No oneknew what to say to Nadia after the death of her mother.
I can’t believe that no one offered to help Jacob to his feet after he slipped on the ice!
Despite numerous pleas from the candidate,no oneshowed up at the rally that July.
When it came to politics, James listened tono onebut Judy.
No oneever told Laura what to do and got away with it.

Can you Start a Sentence with No one?

Yes, you can start a sentence with no one. In fact, no one is an indefinite pronoun that means no person. Since you can begin a sentence with other indefinite pronouns and pronouns in general, you can use no one and nobody in the same way. Always spell no one as two words. What’s more, if you start a sentence with a negative word like no one, be sure the rest of the sentence doesn’t include another negative. This is because double negativesare grammatically incorrect in English.

No one is perfect but we can all strive to be better every day.

What do we use With no one: Has or Have?

Since no one is singular, we use the singular verbhas” with this indefinite pronoun, and never the plural “have.” Therefore, make sure your sentence reflects correct subject-verb agreement by always using has with no one.

No onehave the power to live forever.
No onehas the power to live forever.

What is Another Word for no one?

Here is a list of synonyms for no one:

  • Nobody
  • Not one person
  • No person
  • Not anybody
  • No individual
  • Not anyone
  • Not a soul

For example, nobody is considered less formal than no one. As a result, it may be more appropriate for informal or casual conversations.

No onecould steer Liam away from trouble when he set his mind to it.
Nobodycould steer Liam away from trouble when he set his mind to it.
Not one personcould steer Liam away from trouble when he set his mind to it.

It’s extremely important to note that there are several synonyms and substitutable phrases for no one and nobody, but nuances in meaning should be considered when using them.

Not a soulcould steer Liam away from trouble when he set his mind to it.
Just say no to one word no one.
Noone is a common misspelling of no one.

Taken a certain way, the phrase not anyone in the above example implies the possibility that someone special could potentially steer Liam away from trouble. For additional emphasis, you might write it as not just anyone.

Not anyonecould steer Liam away from trouble when he set his mind to it.

However, the above phrasing suggests that Liam is unfortunately bound for trouble no matter what.

She worried thatnoonewould come to her big party.

Nobody and no one are negative pronouns we use to form negative clauses. Never combine these with other negatives to form a double negative.

Noone didn’t want a slice of cherry pie.
Noone refused a slice of cherry pie.

What is the Opposite of no One?

The literal opposite of no one is every one, which means every person. Here are several other antonyms for no one and nobody:

  • Everyone
  • Everybody
  • All people
  • Each and every one
  • Every person
  • One and all
Everybody turned out for the town’s bicentennial celebration.
One and all turned out for the town’s bicentennial celebration.
Each and every one of its residents turned out for the town’s bicentennial celebration.

Notice that every one and everyone are both included as antonyms for no one. It’s important to note that these words have distinct meanings and are not interchangeable.

  • Every one (two words) refers to each single member of a group.
  • Everyone (one word) refers to the collective members of a group.
Every one of the parishioners took the time to shake the clergyman’s hand before he left.
The clergyman wanted to thank everyone in the parish for their support.

Is it No One or Nobody?

The answer to this question isn’t cut and dry. Both nobody and no one are indefinite pronouns that mean not any person. Although both are technically correct, no one tends to be more common in formal writing, including professional and academic work.

Nobody ever told Laura what to do and got away with it.
Whatno onementioned was that the venue was an hour’s drive away.
What nobody mentioned was that the venue was an hour’s drive away.

How do you use Nobody and No One?

Nobody and no one both mean “not any person.” Additionally, they are indefinite pronouns. Although they mean and may be used interchangeably, no one is the preferred choice for formal, academic, and professional writing applications. Conversely, nobody is more common in formal situations. What’s more, nobody is usually more common in British English than in American English.

📝 Where do we use Nobody and No one?

  • Where to use No one: formal contexts like academic and professional writing
  • Where to use Nobody: informal contexts like casual conversations or messages

How to use no one and Nobody in a Sentence

No oneknew what Jacob would do next.
Nobodyknew what Jacob would do next.
No onein the study knew if they received the placebo.
Nobodyin the study knew if they received the placebo.

Avoiding Sexism: Nobody and No One as Plural Indefinite Pronouns

Nobody and no one are typically considered singular pronouns. However, they’ve taken on new roles as plurals in the effort to minimize gender bias. One reason may be that the English language doesn’t currently have any universally accepted singular gender-neutral pronoun. For this reason, some contemporary may pair nobody and no one with plural possessive pronouns such as their.

No oneconsidered giving up their secrets just yet.
Nobodyconsidered giving up their secrets just yet.

These examples embrace gender inclusion by opting to use the plural their instead of the singular personal pronouns his or her.

Because this usage is not widely accepted yet, we recommend rewording your sentence to avoid any issues altogether. In addition, contemporary writers may also opt to use the singular they/their. This is because many LGBTQ+ communities prefer these gender-neutral pronouns.

The word No beside an invisible man.
While no-one with a hyphen might be an acceptable variant in some situations, no one as two separate words is always correct.

Is Nobody a Negative Word?

The word nobody refers to an absence of people and is considered a negative pronoun. Negative pronouns are used to create negative clauses.

Other Examples of Negative Pronouns

  • No
  • None
  • Nothing
  • No one
  • Neither

Two Negatives Never Make a Right

You should never use another negative word in the same clause with the words nobody, nothing, or no one.

Nobodywent to the diner after the show.
Nobody didn’tgo to the diner after the show.
Nothingwent right the month of the wedding.
Nothing didn’tgo right the month of the wedding.
No oneexcept Geraldine could see lights in the sky over the desert.
No oneexcept Geraldine couldnotsee lights in the sky over the desert.

Noone or No One: A Brief Recap

When it comes to noone and no one, the rules are simple. No one should be written out as two words. Moreover, we recommend that you avoid using a hyphen and opt for the always-correct spelling no one.

Just don’t ever spell it noone. Then again, who would do that? Nobody, right? 😜

Noone or No One? Let’s see if You’re no Longer Confused! Take the Quiz Below

Noone vs. No one Question #1

Which of the following is both grammatically correct and the preferred spelling?
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is C. While no-one is technically correct in some contexts, it is rarely used. The preferred spelling is “no one” with two words.

Noone Question #2

No one is the same as none.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is FALSE. “No one” refers to people only, while “none” can refer to people and inanimate objects.

No one Question #3

What type of pronoun is “no one”?
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is D. “No one” is an indefinite pronoun that means no person.

Noone or No one Question #4

Select the correct sentence.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is B. Since the word “no one” is singular, use the singular verb “has.”

No one Question #5

Which of these is NOT a synonym for “no one”?
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is C. “Noone” is a misspelling of the indefinite pronoun “no one.”

Noone Question #6

Complete the sentence. No one ____ worried about losing the game.
Correct! Wrong!

The answer is WAS. Since “no one” is a negative pronoun, you shouldn’t add another negative to the sentence.

Noone vs No One Quiz Result
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Read More: Alot or A lot or Allot? Here’s the Easiest way to get it Right

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Pam Weber

Pam is an expert grammarian with years of experience teaching English, Writing and ESL Grammar courses at the university level. She is enamored with all things language and fascinated with how we use words to shape our world.

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