Pet peeve: somebody, everybody, anybody, nobody

[RangerWickett]

I hate those four words. People use them in wholly inappropriate times. The most noteworthy example in recent memory was the online trailer for the Farscape mini-series, in which the ominous voice over is saying, "A war nobody wants, a hero nobody can defeat," or something similar.

Couldn't they have said "no one." It sounds much more meaningful. The -body words are too casual. Using them implies that you're not being as precise.

"No one can defeat me," sounds like a threat.

"Nobody can defeat me," sounds like a boast.

In casual conversation, sure, I don't mind them. I use them myself. But in anything serious or professional, I find them to be the sub-optimal choice.

For instance, the notice at the top of the forums: "A community supporter is somebody who has donated to EN World. . . ." Of course EN World is a casual place, but it's just my pet peeve that 'someone' is more appropriate.

 

[Captain Howdy]

Nobody cares.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I once ran a session in which a dungeon was haunted by four incorporeal entities name Everybody, Somebody, Nobody, and Anybody, who would speak up whenever their names were mentioned. It was like an Abbott and Costello routine -- drove the PCs nuts!

They'd try to open a door, and a voice would speak our of the air:

Voice: "Yes?"

PC's "Who's there?"

Voice: "Nobody"

PC's:"Somebody's talking!"

Voice:"Yes!"

PC's: "Who's that!"

Voice: "Nobody"

...

 

[Hand of Evil]

Oh, I too have my pet peeves, eveybody does, but nobody want to hear about them but I do think somebody does care.

Oh, I too have my pet peeves, eveyone does, but no one want to hear about them but I do think some one does care.

You are right.

 

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

Couldn't they have said "no one." It sounds much more meaningful. The -body words are too casual. Using them implies that you're not being as precise.

Nobody asked you.

As for my big pet peeve? People who start a statement with, oh, let's say "Couldn't they have..." and refuse to end with a question mark.

 

[aurance]

Nobody asked you.

I didn't know you needed an invitation to post an opinion...

:\

 

[Algolei]

I don't like the word "got."

 

[Umbra]

I once ran a session in which a dungeon was haunted by four incorporeal entities name Everybody, Somebody, Nobody, and Anybody, who would speak up whenever their names were mentioned. It was like an Abbott and Costello routine...

I have to use this as light relief one day.

 

[Captain Howdy]

I didn't know you needed an invitation to post an opinion...

:\

It was a joke... Get it? Nobody ? See, it's funny... nobody... sheesh.

 

[Nellisir]

It was a joke... Get it? Nobody ? See, it's funny... nobody... sheesh.

Somebody got it. Clearly not everybody, but better than nobody.

Totally serious.
Really.
Nell.