Which one is correct?
"Won't wash anything" or "won't wash anything away"?

Question

Which one is correct?
"Won't wash anything" or "won't wash anything away"?

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This phrase is used to indicate that something will not be cleaned or removed by washing.

Examples:

This stain won't wash anything out.
The dirt on this shirt won't wash anything off.
The marker on the whiteboard won't wash anything away.
The oil on the driveway won't wash anything clean.
The mud on the shoes won't wash anything out.

Alternatives:

won't clean anything
won't remove anything
won't get rid of anything
won't eliminate anything
won't scrub anything

This phrase is used to indicate that something will not be carried away or removed by washing.

Examples:

The rain won't wash anything away from the sidewalk.
The river won't wash anything away from the shore.
The flood won't wash anything away from the house.
The hose won't wash anything away from the driveway.
The waves won't wash anything away from the beach.

Alternatives:

won't remove anything
won't carry anything away
won't displace anything
won't sweep anything away
won't flush anything away

Both phrases are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. 'Won't wash anything' implies that something will not be cleaned or removed by washing, while 'won't wash anything away' suggests that something will not be carried away or removed by washing. The addition of 'away' emphasizes the idea of removal or displacement.

Last Updated: March 11, 2024