Quick answer: Anyone (one word) is an indefinite pronoun meaning any person at all: Is anyone home? Any one (two words) emphasises a single, specific item or person chosen from a group: You can choose any one of these books. Anyone refers to people in general; any one singles out one member of a set. For a fuller definition, see the Cambridge Dictionary entry for ‘anyone’.
Comparison Table
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| anyone | indefinite pronoun | any person at all; no specific person in mind | Did anyone call while I was out? |
| any one | determiner + pronoun/numeral | a single, specific item or person selected from a group | You may take any one of these free samples. |
Using Anyone
Anyone is used when talking about people in general, without singling out a particular individual. It behaves like a singular pronoun and pairs with a singular verb.
Is anyone sitting here?
Anyone can join the club — there's no membership fee.
I don't think anyone noticed the mistake.
If anyone has questions, please raise your hand.
Using Any One
Any one is used to emphasise a single item or person picked from a specific group, often followed by "of".
You could win any one of these three prizes.
Any one of the team members could lead the project.
Choose any one topic from the list for your essay.
Any one of those routes will get you to the station.
Memory Trick
One word, "anyone", means one general idea — any person at all, no one in particular. Two words, "any one", literally point to one single item — picture the space between the words as the space you point into a group to pick just one.
Common Mistakes
✗ Can any one help me carry these boxes?
✓ Can anyone help me carry these boxes?
Since the meaning here is simply "any person at all," the one-word form "anyone" is correct.
✗ Pick anyone of these three colours.
✓ Pick any one of these three colours.
Tips to Avoid Confusion
- If you mean any person in general, use the one-word anyone.
- If you mean a single, specific item or person from a group, use the two-word any one.
- Try inserting "single" after "any": if it still makes sense ("any single one"), you need the two-word form.
- "Any one" is often followed by "of" (any one of us); "anyone" rarely needs "of" immediately after it.
For more on related grammar, see pronouns. Also confusing: Afraid vs Frightened, Alone vs Lonely, Angry vs Furious. Browse all confusing word pairs →
Quick Check: Anyone or Any One?
4 fill-in-the-blank questions — choose the correct word for each sentence.
1. “Is ___ home right now?”
2. “You can choose ___ of these five desserts.”
3. “___ can enter the competition — there's no age limit.”
4. “___ of these apartments would suit our budget.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between anyone and any one?
Anyone (one word) is an indefinite pronoun meaning any person at all: "Is anyone home?" Any one (two words) emphasises a single, specific item or person chosen from a group: "You can pick any one of these books." One refers to people in general; the other singles out one member of a set.
Why are anyone and any one so often confused?
They sound almost identical when spoken and both involve the idea of 'any', so writers often don't notice that one is a single pronoun and the other is a determiner plus a numeral/pronoun with its own emphasis.
How can I test whether I need anyone or any one?
Try inserting 'single' after 'any': if the sentence still makes sense ("any single one of these books"), you need the two-word form 'any one'. If it doesn't fit that test and you simply mean 'any person', use the one-word 'anyone'.
Can any one refer to things as well as people?
Yes. 'Any one' commonly refers to a single item from a group of things ("choose any one of these designs") as well as a single person from a group ("any one of the candidates could win").
Is anyone always followed by a singular verb?
Yes — 'anyone' is grammatically singular, so it takes a singular verb: "Anyone is welcome to join," not "Anyone are welcome." Pronouns referring back to it are often 'they/their' in modern usage: "Anyone can bring their own lunch."
Does any one need 'of' after it?
Very often, yes: "any one of us", "any one of the options". The 'of' phrase specifies the group that the single item or person is being picked from.
Is anybody the same as anyone?
Yes, 'anybody' and 'anyone' are interchangeable indefinite pronouns meaning 'any person at all': "Is anybody/anyone there?" There is no equivalent two-word contrast for 'anybody'.
Can anyone be used in negative sentences?
Yes: "I didn't see anyone at the park." In negative and question contexts, 'anyone' behaves like other 'any-' words such as 'anything' and 'anywhere'.
Can I use any one at the start of a sentence?
Yes, for emphasis on a single choice: "Any one of these routes will get you there," meaning that a single, specific route from the list would work — not just any person in general.
How can I remember anyone vs any one?
One word, 'anyone', means one general idea: any person. Two words, 'any one', point to one single, specific item — picture the gap between the words as the gap you're pointing into a group to pick just one.