are always not

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are always not" is not correct and is generally not usable in written English.
It is awkward and can lead to confusion in meaning. Instead, consider rephrasing for clarity. Example: "They are always not available when I need them."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

But these are always not easy topics to tackle in the classroom.

Independent

"I think guns and bullets are always not the answer to such problems," he said.

The New York Times

Amazingly enough, they are always not only all right, but laughing.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And then you see sometimes that you wish to help them but the funds are always not enough".

The New York Times

Accordingly, three phase voltage variation directions are always not the same.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

However, these frame-by-frame based algorithms are always not applicable especially when a local signal stationarity cannot be assumed.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

MHOs are typically owned, designed and managed by the community that they serve (such as a district, a trade association, or a hospital catchment area), and differ from commercial insurance organizations in that they are always not-for-profit and are based on the principles of mutual aid and social solidarity (Bennett et al. 2004).

Health Policy and Planning

It's always not enough.

The New York Times - Sports

I'm always not there.

The Guardian - Music

"In Kafka, something is always not being said.

The New Yorker

We're always not the cool ones.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "are always not" in your writing. It is generally considered grammatically incorrect and can confuse your reader. Opt for more direct and standard negations like "are never" or "are not always" for improved clarity.

Common error

Using "are always not" can unintentionally create a double negative. To prevent this, consider if you meant to express a complete absence (use "are never") or a lack of consistency (use "are not always").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are always not" functions as an adverbial modifier intended to express negation across all instances. However, it is considered grammatically incorrect. This phrase is typically used to convey that something is not consistently true or present, which Ludwig AI marks as incorrect.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

41%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "are always not" appears in various sources, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect and can lead to confusion. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's advisable to avoid this phrase in favor of clearer alternatives like "are never" or "are not always". These alternatives provide more precise and grammatically sound ways to express the intended meaning, whether it's a complete absence or a lack of consistency. When aiming for clarity and accuracy in your writing, opting for these alternatives will enhance your message and prevent potential misunderstandings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are never

Expresses complete absence, replacing the combination of "always" and "not" with a direct negative.

are not always

Indicates that something is true in some cases but not in others, a more standard negation.

do not always

Similar to "are not always", but uses the auxiliary verb "do" to form the negation, often used when referring to actions or behaviors.

are consistently not

Highlights the lack of consistent presence, implying a pattern of absence.

are usually not

Suggests that something is typically absent, but with possible exceptions.

are generally not

Indicates a general absence, but leaves room for occasional exceptions.

are often not

Suggests absence happens frequently but not always.

are sometimes not

Emphasizes that something is occasionally absent, focusing on the intermittent nature.

are not invariably

Indicates that something is not constant or unchanging.

are variably

Highlights the tendency to vary or change, implying a lack of consistent presence.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "are always not"?

No, the phrase "are always not" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and awkward. It's better to use more direct alternatives like "are never" or "are not always" for clarity.

What's the difference between "are always not" and "are not always"?

"Are always not" is generally considered incorrect. "Are not always" means something is true in some instances but not in others. For example "plans are not always successful" means that there can be situations where plans work and other situations where plans don't work.

What can I say instead of "are always not"?

Depending on your intended meaning, you can use phrases like "are never", "are not always", or "are consistently not".

When should I use "are never" instead of "are always not"?

Use "are never" when you want to indicate that something is completely absent or does not happen at any time. For example, "Mistakes are never acceptable in surgery".