-1

How do native English speakers decide when to use the former or the later?

Example:

No, it was nothing official. She just stopped coming to work.

No, it wasn't anything official. She just stopped coming to work.

For some reason, "it was nothing official" has 6 hits on Google Books and "it wasn't anything official" has 79. This makes me wonder, when "it was nothing" is preferred over "it wasn't anything"?

Improve this question
3
  • Why the downvote?
    – wyc
    Sep 23, 2015 at 16:20
  • I doubt the average native speaker "decides" whether to use nothing, anything, or nothing at all (i.e. - No, it wasn't official). But I'm not even sure this is particularly a matter of English established idiomatic preference, given that French and Spanish have de rien and de nada corresponding to It was nothing (= Don't mention it). But arguably claiming something is "nothing" is more direct/simpler than denying that it's "anything".
    – FumbleFingers
    Sep 23, 2015 at 16:49
  • @FumbleFingers "...claiming something is "nothing" is more direct/simpler than denying that it's "anything." Yes, I also thought about that, and that's why I'm surprised about the Google Books results.
    – wyc
    Sep 23, 2015 at 17:19

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
2

"There was nothing official" vs. "there wasn't anything official" will get you more results on Google Books, respectively 633 and 35. But I think the expression you're looking for is:

There was no official announcement. She just stopped coming to work.

enter image description here

Improve this answer

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.