to be nothing such as (to be no such thing as)

Writers often produce awkward negatives like "There is nothing such as a free lunch." The fix is usually short: pick the correct negative pattern ("there is no," "there aren't any," or "there is no such thing as") or rewrite the sentence in active voice.

Below: simple rules, compact memory checks, many wrong→right pairs, and ready-to-copy rewrites for formal, workplace, school, and casual contexts.

Quick answer

Use "there is no" (or "there isn't any") to state absence. Use "there are no" for plural nouns. Replace nonstandard phrases like "there is nothing such as" with "there is no such thing as" or a direct negative.

"There is no such thing as a free lunch." (idiom)
Agreement rule: singular/uncountable → "there is no"; plural → "there are no".
Tone: contractions ("there isn't") are fine in casual contexts; prefer full forms in formal writing.

Core explanation: what "there is no" and "no such thing" mean

"There is no" states absence of something concrete or measurable. "There is no such thing as X" denies the existence of a type, category, or general concept.

Avoid literal or translated forms like "there is nothing such as" - they sound unidiomatic and distract readers.

Correct: "There is no evidence."
Idiomatic: "There is no such thing as a free lunch."
Wrong: "There is nothing such as a free lunch."

Grammar mechanics: agreement, count, and contractions

Check the head noun: is it singular, plural, or uncountable? That decides which verb and quantifier to use.

Contractions ("there's," "there isn't") are conversational. Avoid them in formal reports and academic writing.

Singular or uncountable: "There is no time." / "There isn't any time."
Plural: "There are no seats left." (Not "There is no seats.")
"There is no such thing as X" denies a concept; "There is no X" denies a specific item or amount.

Agreement: Wrong: "There is no books left." -
Right: "There are no books left."
Contraction: Formal: "There is no evidence." -
Casual: "There isn't any evidence yet."

Real usage & tone: pick phrasing for your audience

"There is no" and "there are no" are neutral and suitable for formal contexts. Use contractions and idioms in more casual language.

"No such thing as" is idiomatic and common in conversation; in formal writing, choose a precise denial (e.g., "There is no evidence of...").

Formal: "There is no record of the meeting."
Work chat: "There isn't any update yet."
Casual: "There's no such thing as bad pizza, in my opinion."

Formal example: "There is no conclusive data supporting the claim."
Work example: "There isn't any feedback from the client yet."
Casual example: "There's no coffee left-want to grab some?"

Rewrite help: three fast repairs you can copy

If a sentence begins with a shaky "there is ...", use one of these reliable patterns or move to an active subject.

Pattern A (deny a concept): "There is no such thing as + noun/phrase."
Pattern B (deny specific count/amount): "There is no + noun" or "There are no + plural noun."
Active alternative: "No + noun + verb..." or "We found no + noun..."

Rewrite:
Original: "There is nothing such as a quick fix." -
Rewrite: "There is no quick fix."
Rewrite:
Original: "There is nothing such as extra spots in the workshop." -
Rewrite: "There are no extra spots in the workshop."
Rewrite (active): Original: "There is nothing such as proof of payment." -
Rewrite: "We have no proof of payment."
Active rewrite: Original: "There is no support for the proposal." - Active: "The proposal received no support."

Examples: wrong → right pairs (work, school, casual)

Scan the category you need and copy the corrected pattern into your sentence. These wrong examples reflect common errors with "there is" or "nothing such as."

Wrong → Right: Wrong: "There is nothing such as a fair trial in that country." -
Right: "There is no such thing as a fair trial in that country."
School - Wrong → Right: Wrong: "There is nothing such as extra credit in this course." -
Right: "There is no extra credit in this course."
Wrong → Right: Wrong: "There is nothing such as a shortcut to success." -
Right: "There is no shortcut to success."
Grammar - Wrong → Right: Wrong: "There is no informations about the meeting." -
Right: "There is no information about the meeting."
Work - Wrong → Right: Wrong: "There is nothing such as a completed report on my desk." -
Right: "There is no completed report on my desk."
Work - Wrong → Right: Wrong: "There is no seats available." -
Right: "There are no seats available."
Casual - Wrong → Right: Wrong: "There's nothing such as good sushi in that small town." -
Right: "There's no such thing as good sushi in that small town."
Grammar - Wrong → Right: Wrong: "There isn't no sugar left." -
Right: "There isn't any sugar left." (or "There is no sugar left.")

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence rather than a single phrase-context clarifies the correct choice.

Memory trick: three quick checks before you write

Run these checks in order: Count? Concept? Tone? Each yields a fast, reliable choice.

1) Countable plural? → "There are no + plural noun" (e.g., "there are no cookies").
2) Denying a type or idea? → "There is no such thing as..."
3) Formal or casual? → Full form for formal, contraction for casual.

Tip: See "nothing such as..." → ask: do I mean a concept? If yes, use "no such thing as."

Similar mistakes & pitfalls to avoid

Watch for subject-verb disagreement, double negatives, using "nothing" where "no" fits, and literal translations that sound odd.

Subject-verb mismatch: change "There is no books" → "There are no books."
Avoid double negatives: "There isn't no" is incorrect; use "there isn't any" or "there is no."
Don't swap in "nothing" blindly; sometimes an active subject is clearer: "Nothing suggests he left" vs "There is nothing to suggest he left."

Wrong → Right: Wrong: "There isn't no milk left." -
Right: "There isn't any milk left." / "There is no milk left."
Wrong → Right: Wrong: "There is no records from 2018." -
Right: "There are no records from 2018."

Hyphenation & spacing notes (tiny but useful)

"There is no" and its variants do not need hyphens. Keep contractions standard: "there's" and "there isn't."

Do not add spaces around apostrophes or between words in the phrase.

Correct: "There is no long-term plan." (hyphen in "long-term" because it modifies "plan")
Wrong: "There - is no" or "thereis" - keep normal spacing.

Usage: Write: "There is no long-term solution." Not: "There-is no long term solution."

Soft CTA: how to check a fix quickly

If you're unsure after a rewrite, run three quick checks: read it aloud, make an active version, and confirm agreement with a grammar tool.

Read aloud-unidiomatic phrases like "nothing such as" stand out.
Try an active rewrite-"No X + verb" often reads stronger.
Use a grammar checker to confirm agreement and to catch double negatives.

FAQ

Can I say "there is nothing such as"?

No. Native speakers rarely use that phrase. Replace it with "there is no such thing as" for concepts or "there is no + noun" for concrete things.

When should I use "there isn't any" instead of "there is no"?

"There isn't any" sounds softer and more conversational-good for speech, messages, and informal emails. Use "there is no" for neutral or formal statements.

How do I handle plurals and agreement?

Use "there are no + plural noun" for plural heads. For singular or uncountable nouns, use "there is no + noun." Always check the head noun before choosing.

What's a quick active rewrite for "There is no evidence"?

Try "No evidence supports the claim" or "We found no evidence of the claim." Active rewrites tend to be clearer and stronger.

Is "no such thing as" acceptable in formal writing?

It's idiomatic and widely understood. In very formal or technical writing, prefer precise denials like "There is no [evidence/record/instance] of..." when you deny empirical facts; use "no such thing as" for broader generalizations.

Still unsure? Try this quick experiment

Make two fixes: one using "there is no/there are no" and one as an active rewrite. Read both aloud and choose the clearer option. If needed, paste both into a grammar checker or ask a colleague for the tone you want.