The English Oracle

Open for "anyone"? Or open for "everyone"?

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Chapters
00:00 Open For &Quot;Anyone&Quot;? Or Open For &Quot;Everyone&Quot;?
00:12 Answer 1 Score 13
00:26 Answer 2 Score 6
00:41 Accepted Answer Score 10
01:14 Answer 4 Score 0
01:29 Thank you

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Full question
https://english.stackexchange.com/questi...

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Tags
#wordchoice #pronouns #anyevery

#avk47



ANSWER 1

Score 13


The distinction is not important in this case. Everyone means every person, without exception and anyone means any person, without discrimination.




ACCEPTED ANSWER

Score 10


There's a subtle distinction, as noted that's likely unimportant -- unless you're at all concerned about subconscious reactions from speakers of American English.

"Anyone" does have some negative connotations and usages attached to it that people don't necessarily think about:

  • "Anyone can do that."
  • "They'll take anyone."

For your purposes either would probably be fine, but "everyone" will be perceived as more inclusive.




ANSWER 3

Score 6


Usually a tournament would be "open to everyone" or "open to anyone".

To me there is a marginal difference that "open to everyone" sounds slightly more friendly or more welcoming than "open to anyone".




ANSWER 4

Score 0


"every" as in "each and every" is a reference to elements in a set and can be taken as the intention to include all elements in the set; "any" is more a universal concept and implies no distinction at all.