I remember nothing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I remember nothing" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when expressing that you have no recollection or remembrance of something. For example, "I was so tired when I arrived home last night that I remember nothing of the drive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I remember nothing".

The New Yorker

I remember nothing more".

The Guardian

"Now I remember nothing of sound.

The Guardian

Sometimes I wonder if the man thinks I remember nothing.

The New Yorker

Jeff [laughing]: I remember nothing about my wedding.

The New York Times

And I remember nothing further of those after-school dramatics.

The New Yorker

"Speeches were made, of which I remember nothing.

The Guardian - Books

"I Remember Nothing" has 23 pieces, and most of them are much shorter and less shapely.

The New York Times - Books

All these questions about journalistic provenance arise from the best essay in "I Remember Nothing".

The New York Times - Books

In "I Remember Nothing," we get more of the same, sometimes verbatim.

The New York Times - Books

Nora Ephron's new book of essays is titled "I Remember Nothing," but that's a sop.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I remember nothing" to express a complete lack of recollection of an event, detail, or period. For instance, after an accident or a particularly stressful experience.

Common error

Avoid using "I remember nothing" when you only have fragmented or incomplete memories. Instead, use phrases like "I vaguely remember" or "I only recall parts of it" to accurately reflect your state of mind.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I remember nothing" functions as a declarative statement expressing a complete lack of memory or recall. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a common way to indicate that there is no recollection of a particular event or detail. The phrase serves to inform the listener or reader about the speaker's state of mind.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I remember nothing" is a grammatically correct and very common way to express a complete lack of memory, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's versatile, fitting in neutral register contexts. While the phrase itself is simple, it conveys a powerful message of total absence of recall. Remember to use alternatives like "I have no recollection whatsoever" or "I can't recall anything" for different nuances, and avoid using it when you have only partial memory.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I have no memory of that

States a lack of memory directly and simply.

I don't recall a thing

Replaces "remember" with "recall" and uses the idiom "a thing" for emphasis.

I have no recollection whatsoever

Uses more formal vocabulary like "recollection" and "whatsoever" to emphasize the lack of memory.

My mind is a blank

Uses a metaphorical expression to indicate complete absence of memory.

It's all a blur to me

Indicates that the memory is unclear and indistinct.

I can't seem to recall anything

Adds the element of difficulty in recalling, suggesting effort without success.

That doesn't ring a bell

Uses an idiomatic expression to indicate that something is unfamiliar or not remembered.

I draw a blank

Uses a more casual idiom, "draw a blank", to express failure to remember.

I've completely forgotten

Emphasizes the completeness of forgetting something.

It's gone from my mind

Indicates that the memory has disappeared or faded.

FAQs

How can I use "I remember nothing" in a sentence?

You can use "I remember nothing" to indicate a complete lack of memory about something. For example, "I was so tired that "I remember nothing" from the party after midnight."

What's a more formal way to say "I remember nothing"?

A more formal way to express "I remember nothing" is "I have no recollection whatsoever" or "I have no memory of that". These alternatives are suitable for professional or academic contexts.

What can I say instead of "I remember nothing" to convey a partial memory?

If you have some memory but it's incomplete, you can use phrases like "I vaguely remember", "I only recall parts of it", or "it's all a blur to me".

Is it correct to say "I don't remember nothing"?

No, "I don't remember nothing" is a double negative and grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "I remember nothing" or "I don't remember anything".