Is there a difference between the phrase
I have no clue...
and
I haven't a clue...
as well as
I am clueless...
For instance if someone said:
What is wrong with this?
Which of these could be used to answer?
I'm not a fan of Ngrams, so my answer is based on personal opinion and experience.
Although I suppose that the three phrases would be perfectly understood in context, if I were to use one of them I'd go for the first one (I have no clue) or for a modified version of the second (I don't have a clue or I haven't got a clue).
I wouldn't use the second phrase as it is because in negative sentences the verb have is normally used either in conjunction with got, thus being an auxiliary, or preceded by "don't"/"doesn't"/"didn't" as any other verb.
As for clueless, OALD states that it is an informal, disapproving adjective which means "very stupid; not able to understand or do something", which is a deviation from the meaning of the previous sentences.
-
1"I haven't a clue" is idiomatic and colloquial, almost certainly a shortening of "I haven't got a clue". "I have no clue" sounds more formal. But any of these would be understood to mean that you have no idea. Correct about "clueless"; avoid it! – barbara beeton Jan 26 '13 at 14:17
-
-
More than that: clueless is a description of a person's character not a word applied to a specific instance of not having a clue. – Jack Aidley Mar 5 '13 at 16:59
As I understand it, all of those three are suitable answers.
I have no clue and I haven't a clue have the same meaning, but I haven't a clue seems to be more used according to this Ngram (blue line = I have no clue, red line = I haven't a clue - which Google changes to I have not a clue).
I am clueless will probably be understood by most people, even though clueless has some negative conotations of stupidity.
