are not married

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are not married" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the marital status of individuals, indicating that they are single or not in a legal marriage. Example: "Despite their long-term relationship, they are not married and have chosen to live together without formalizing their union."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They are not married.

The New York Times

You are not married.

The New Yorker

This is why you are not married".

The New York Times

The two are not married.

The New York Times

The couple are not married.

The Guardian - Opinion

Half of the men in Iraq are not married.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

They are not married as Allsopp is dubious about marriage.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Snee and Katie Coughlin are not married or engaged.

The New York Times - Sports

As far as I know they are not married.

The Guardian - Music

The pair are not married and do not have children.

The New York Times - Arts

While they are a couple, they are not married.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formally, use "are not married" instead of colloquial alternatives to maintain a professional tone.

Common error

Avoid using informal substitutes for "are not married" in professional or academic writing. Slang or colloquial phrases might be inappropriate and reduce the credibility of your work.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are not married" functions as a descriptive phrase, indicating the marital status of one or more individuals. Ludwig provides numerous examples where this phrase is used to clarify relationships or situations. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

13%

Academia

6%

Less common in

HuffPost

5%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are not married" is a straightforward and grammatically sound way to describe the absence of a marital relationship. Ludwig AI validates its correctness, and the numerous examples from diverse sources, including news outlets like The New York Times and academic publications, demonstrate its versatility. The phrase serves to provide clarity in various contexts, from legal implications to relationship dynamics. While alternatives like "single" or "unmarried" exist, "are not married" offers a direct and unambiguous way to convey this information. It's important to avoid informal substitutes in formal writing to maintain professionalism.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are unmarried

Direct synonym, emphasizing the lack of a marital bond.

are not a married couple

Emphasizes that they do not constitute a married pair.

are single

Focuses on the state of not being in a relationship, marital or otherwise.

are without a spouse

Formal way of saying they don't have a marriage partner.

are not husband and wife

Specifies the absence of a husband-wife relationship.

are not yet wed

Indicates they might get married in the future, but haven't yet.

have not tied the knot

Idiomatic expression implying they have not gotten married.

remain single

Highlights the continuation of their single status.

are unattached

Suggests a lack of any romantic commitment, not just marriage.

are living separately

Implies they might have been married but are now apart.

FAQs

What's the difference between "are not married" and "unmarried"?

"Are not married" is a phrase that explicitly states the absence of a marital bond. "Unmarried" is a single word adjective describing someone who is not in a state of matrimony. They are largely interchangeable, though "are not married" can provide a slightly more emphatic or descriptive tone.

How can I use "are not married" in a sentence?

You can use "are not married" to describe the relationship status of individuals, such as, "Although they have been together for years, they "are not married"." It can also describe a general situation, such as, "Many couples today "are not married" when they have children."

Is it better to say "are not married" or "single"?

Whether to use ""are not married"" or "single" depends on the context. "Single" generally means not in a committed relationship of any kind. "Are not married" specifically refers to the absence of a legal marital bond, even if the individuals are in a long-term relationship.

What are some formal alternatives to "are not married"?

In formal contexts, you can use phrases like "unmarried", "without a spouse", or specify that individuals "have not entered into marriage" to maintain a professional and precise tone.