any thing vs. anything/any one vs. anyone

[SweetMommaSue]

Hello Forer@s,

How does one explain the difference in use for:

1.) any thing vs. anything

2.) any one vs. anyone

I haven't been able to locate a rule.

Thank you,
Sweet Momma Sue

 

[Isotta]

This should do it for number two.

Z.

 

[SweetMommaSue]

I know that for anything it can be used as a pronoun, adverb, noun and as an idiom. However, any thing would only be used to mean whatever object, right?

Thank you, Isotta for the reference link. It does explain it exactly! I shall search for number one there, now.

--SMS
Edit: I wish they had a usage note with the word "anything" as they did with the word "anyone". However, I suppose we'd treat the two word "any thing" as just that: two words.