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What is a correct translation for 「そんなことない」 and when can it be used?

I understand the "this is wrong"/"this is not correct" general sense but is
this considered either as harsh or a gentle way of showing disagreement?

Also a direct translation would be "there is no such thing". Can this
expression be applied to a person?
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2012-09-11T11:29:13.210
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2012-09-11T12:50:08.923
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translation expressions idioms
Translation of 「そんなことない」
It is relatively gentle, and a good way of allaying fears or dispelling
misconceptions.

> お邪魔みたいですので、これで失礼しますね… It seems like I'm interrupting you, so I'll see myself
> out... そんなこと（は）ないですよ Not at all! / Don't be silly! / No such thing!
>
> かなり怖い人だそうですけど… I heard he's quite a scary person...  
>  そんなことない Not at all.

If by your last question you mean can the "thing" be a person, I would say no.
When you start making the "thing" a literal object instead of a fact, そんなものはない
(there is no such thing [here]) fits better, and for people, そんな人はいない (there
is no such person [here]).
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2012-09-11T12:50:08.923
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2012-09-11T12:50:08.923
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