at no point

USAGE SUMMARY

'at no point' is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to emphasize that something did not happen or is not true at any time. For example, "At no point did I express any interest in leaving my job."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At no point did he apologize.

The New York Times

"At no point was he detained.

The New York Times

At no point was he locked anywhere.

The New York Times - Sports

At no point did he offer compensation.

Harvard Business Review

"At no point at all," May replies.

The Guardian

At no point is the circuit overloaded.

The New York Times - Arts

At no point was either headline altered.

The New York Times

At no point did they toast him.

The New York Times

At no point did he back down.

The Guardian - Opinion

At no point should you be ambitious.

The Guardian - Books

"At no point did that happen".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at no point" to clearly and emphatically state that something did not occur or was not true at any time. This phrase adds a strong sense of negation.

Common error

Avoid using "at no point" when you actually mean something did happen. This phrase is strictly for negating events or states.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at no point" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate negation across all times. As Ludwig AI confirms, it emphasizes that something did not happen or is not true at any time. For example, "At no point did he apologize."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Wiki

14%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at no point" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to emphatically deny or negate an event or state. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically sound and widely employed across various writing styles. This phrase most commonly appears in News & Media, Wiki and Scientific contexts, making it an acceptable and effective way to express negation, or highlight an event that didn't occur. While "never" serves as a simpler alternative, "at no point" brings additional emphasis. Therefore, it is crucial to reserve this phrase for situations where a strong declaration is warranted.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Not at any time

This alternative emphasizes the temporal aspect, highlighting that something was never true across any duration.

Never

This is a simpler, more direct way of saying something didn't happen, lacking the emphasis of the original.

Not once

This emphasizes the lack of even a single occurrence.

On no occasion

This is a more formal alternative, suitable for professional or academic contexts.

In no instance

This highlights that something never occurred as a specific event or example.

In no way

This emphatizes the impossibility of doing something.

Under no circumstances

This phrase indicates a prohibition or impossibility, adding a sense of restriction.

By no means

This shows denial or contradiction, pointing something as false or incorrect.

Absolutely not

This phrase shows disagreement or negation, and it's usually very clear.

Nowhere

This alternative indicates place, and implies something not happening in any possible place.

FAQs

How can I use "at no point" in a sentence?

Use "at no point" to emphasize that something never happened or was never the case. For example, "At no point did I agree to those terms."

What are some alternatives to "at no point"?

You can use alternatives like "never", "not at any time", or "on no occasion" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it more formal to say "at no point" instead of "never"?

Yes, "at no point" is generally considered more formal than "never". It is often used in legal, academic, or professional settings to add emphasis and clarity.

Can "at no point" be used to describe a future event?

While typically used to describe past events that did not occur, "at no point" can also be used to emphasize that something will not happen in the future. For instance, "At no point will we compromise our values."