The phrase "Coffee without sugar"

[spearhead]

Hello again, long time no speak. I've recently had a discussion with one of my co-workers. He said it would be incorrect to say I drink coffee without sugar. He said the correct way to say it would be I drink coffee with no sugar. I can see no difference between both. Could you please help me?

Thank you so much.
Olaf

[Yankee]

Hi Olaf

As we'd say in the US: It's six of one and half a dozen of the other. In other words, it doesn't really matter which way you say it, however "no sugar" is probably used more often.

Ann: How do you take your coffee?
Betty: Black, no sugar.

Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Alan]

Hi,

The phrase 'coffee without sugar' is more instructional than conversational. You might possibly find it written on a drinks machine or you would say it if you wanted to make absolutely sure that you didn't want any sugar when you were giving an order for coffee in a restaurant.

A
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English as a Second Language
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