For a general vector field we exhibit two Hilbert spaces, namely the space of so called \emph{closed functions} and the space of \emph{exact functions} and we calculate the codimension of the space of exact functions inside the larger space of closed functions. In particular we provide a new approach for the known cases: the Glauber field and the second-order Ginzburg--Landau field and for the case of the fourth-order Ginzburg--Landau field.