of any of → of

Short version: Use "any" + bare plural or mass noun for a general meaning (any books, any help). Use "any of" when you point to members of a specific set introduced by a determiner or pronoun (any of the books, any of them). Avoid "of any of"-it is usually redundant or wrong.

Quick answer

Any + noun = general. Any of + determiner/pronoun + noun = selection from a defined set. Don't add an extra "of."

General: any books, any water, any advice.
Specific: any of the books, any of my notes, any of them.
If a determiner or pronoun follows (the, these, my, them), keep "of."

Core explanation: the practical rule

Two simple checks decide the form: is the noun bare or is it introduced as a particular set? If it's bare, use any + noun. If it's a selection from a named set, use any of + determiner/pronoun + noun.

Correct general: I don't have any books.
Correct specific: I don't have any of the books you lent me.
Wrong: I don't have of any books. (bad order)
Avoid: "of any of the books" - simplify to either "any of the books" or "any books" depending on meaning.

Real usage and tone

Dropping "of" tightens prose and suits casual speech and headlines. Use "any of" for precision, especially in formal writing or when a set is named or implied (the files on my desk, the chapters we assigned).

Email/subject lines: short and direct-"Any updates?" or "Any issues?"
Reports/academic writing: keep specificity-"Any of the samples that failed were retested."
Speech: native speakers sometimes compress phrases; don't drop "of" when referring to a defined group.

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

Each wrong line shows a common mistake; right lines show the natural fix. Notes clarify when meaning shifts.

Work:
Wrong: We don't have any of the reports due today. →
Right: We don't have any reports due today. (general) - Or, specific: We don't have any of the reports on my desk.
Work:
Wrong: Can you send any of the files from last quarter? →
Right: Can you send the files from last quarter? (asks for that set) - Or: Can you send any files from last quarter? (asks for any at all)
Work:
Wrong: I don't have any of the money you transferred. →
Right: I don't have the money you transferred. (specific sum)
School:
Wrong: She didn't read any of the articles for class. →
Right: She didn't read any articles for class. (general) - Or: She didn't read any of the articles assigned for class. (specific)
School:
Wrong: Do you have any of the notes from lecture? →
Right: Do you have any notes from the lecture? - Or: Do you have any of the notes I missed? (specific)
School:
Wrong: I couldn't find any of books in the library catalog. →
Right: I couldn't find any books in the library catalog. (drop extra "of")
Casual:
Wrong: Do you have any of the cake left? →
Right: Do you have any cake left? - If you mean part of one cake: Is any of the cake left?
Casual:
Wrong: Are there any of your friends coming? →
Right: Are any of your friends coming?
Casual:
Wrong: I don't want any of the problems on that test. →
Right: I don't want any problems on that test.
Rewrite:
Wrong: I couldn't find any of the books I was looking for. →
Right: I couldn't find any books I was looking for. - If you mean a specific set: I couldn't find any of the books you lent me.
Rewrite:
Wrong: I'm not taking any of the advice that was vague. →
Right: I'm not taking any advice that was vague. - Or: I'm not taking any of the pieces of advice you gave me that were vague.
Rewrite:
Wrong: She didn't bring any of books. →
Right: She didn't bring any books.

Rewrite help: quick checklist + copyable rewrites

Three quick checks and ready-to-use rewrites.

Step 1 - Look after "any": is a determiner or pronoun next (the, these, my, them)? If yes, use any of + determiner/pronoun.
Step 2 - If "any" is followed by a bare plural or mass noun with no determiner, use any + noun (drop "of").
Step 3 - Read aloud: if dropping "of" expands the reference unintentionally, restore "any of" and name the set.

Copyable: Original: I don't have any of the documents. → General: I don't have any documents. → Specific: I don't have any of the documents you emailed me.
Copyable: Original: Can you bring any of the tools? → General: Can you bring any tools? → Specific: Can you bring any of the tools from the garage?
Copyable: Original: We couldn't find any of recipes online. → Fix: We couldn't find any recipes online.

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence in context. If it names a set, keep "any of"; if it speaks generally, use "any."

Memory trick: Specific or General?

Ask: "Am I talking about a specific set (that, these, my, the) or anything at all?"

Specific → use "any of + determiner/pronoun" (any of the, any of these, any of my).
General → use "any + bare plural or mass noun" (any books, any help).
If unsure, rephrase to name the set or keep the language general.

Mnemonic: Specific: "Any of these files." General: "Any files will do."

Hyphenation and spacing: tiny but strict rules

Write "any" and "of" as separate words: "any of." Never hyphenate them or insert stray spaces. Let the phrase break naturally to the next line if needed.

Correct: any of the candidates
Incorrect: any-of the candidates

Grammar deep dive: determiners, pronouns, and meaning shifts

"Any" can act as a determiner on its own (any + N) or form any of + NP (prepositional phrase selecting from a set). "Of" needs a following noun phrase, usually with a determiner or pronoun.

Structure: any + N (general) vs. any of + Det/Pron + N (selection).
Unacceptable: any of without a following determiner/pronoun (wrong: any of books).
Meaning shift example: "I don't have any of the money" (specific sum) vs. "I don't have any money" (no money at all).

Similar mistakes to watch for

Confusing these patterns often signals other determiner errors. Fixing them improves clarity.

anyone vs. any one: anyone = any person; any one of them = any single member of a set.
some vs. some of: use some of the when referring to a subset of a definite group.
each of vs. each + noun: each of the students (specific group) vs. each student (individuals generally).

FAQ

When should I use "any of" vs "any"?

Use "any of" when selecting from a specific, identifiable set (any of the files, any of my notes). Use "any" with a bare plural or mass noun for a general meaning (any files, any help).

Is "any of the books" interchangeable with "any books"?

No. "Any of the books" points to a particular set (for example, the books on the shelf). "Any books" is broader. Choose the phrasing that matches the set you mean.

Can I drop "of" in casual speech?

Yes, if no determiner or pronoun follows. Native speakers shorten speech often, but don't drop "of" when you mean a specific set introduced by the, these, or a possessive.

Will removing "of" make my sentence sound informal?

Not necessarily. Removing an unnecessary "of" usually improves clarity. Formal writing should simply reflect whether you mean a specific set or a general class.

How can I test whether my rewrite changed the meaning?

Compare references: did you remove a named set or determiner? If the original named a specific group and the rewrite drops that, you've likely broadened the meaning. Restore the determiner or rephrase to be explicit if that change is unintended.

Quick check before you send it

Run the three-step checklist: look after "any," decide specific vs. general, and read aloud. Small fixes-adding or removing "of"-prevent misunderstandings and save correction emails later.