at no stage

USAGE SUMMARY

"at no stage" is a common phrase used in written English.
It is often used to express a lack of progress or action at any point in time. For example, "At no stage did we consider cancelling the event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At no stage was his head bleeding.

The Guardian - Sport

At no stage last Thursday were the Irish fans audible.

The Guardian - Sport

"At no stage of this affair was Israel's security damaged.

The Guardian

At no stage was he anything other than inspirational.

The Guardian - Sport

At no stage was there any editorial oversight.

The Guardian

At no stage was Stokes inclined to reduce his pace.

Independent

"At no stage did Israel accept this American initiative.

The New York Times

At no stage of the proceedings, however, were additional counsel in fact appointed.

Harvard University

At no stage do you learn that this is some kind of exercise or fun.

The New York Times

At no stage was it suggested that this was a matter for the devolved Scottish parliament.

The Guardian - Opinion

At no stage, it should be emphasised, was any concern raised about Professor Cristal himself.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at no stage" to clearly and definitively state that something did not occur at any point during a process or event. This phrase is useful for negating assumptions or clarifying a sequence of events.

Common error

Avoid using "at any stage" when you mean to convey that something never happened. "At any stage" implies possibility, while "at no stage" explicitly denies occurrence. For example, use "At no stage did we consider cancelling the event" instead of "At any stage did we consider cancelling the event" if you want to emphasize that the cancellation was never considered.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at no stage" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate that something did not occur at any point in time. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in negating actions or states across a defined period.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

20%

Science

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at no stage" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to negate the occurrence of an event throughout a specific duration. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and frequently found in news, academic, and scientific contexts. When writing, remember to use "at no stage" to emphasize the complete absence of an action, avoiding confusion with similar phrases like "at any stage". For alternative expressions, consider "never", "at no time", or "under no circumstances" to achieve similar emphatic negation. Remember that Ludwig provides many examples and resources that help in the correct usage of this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

never

This is the shortest and most direct synonym, indicating the action did not occur at any time.

at no time

Similar to "at no stage" but emphasizes a specific point in time rather than a broader process.

at no point

Very close in meaning, highlighting the absence throughout a duration.

under no circumstances

This phrase adds a sense of condition or restriction, making it a stronger denial.

in no way

Emphasizes that something is not possible or true from any perspective.

not at any time

A longer, more emphatic version of "at no time".

not once

Highlights the absence of even a single occurrence.

on no occasion

A more formal way of saying something never happened.

never once

Emphasizes the absence of an event happening even a single time.

in no instance

A more formal and less common synonym.

FAQs

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

The phrase "at no stage" is typically used to emphasize that something did not occur at any point during a specific process or event. For instance, you might say, "At no stage did the negotiations progress beyond the initial proposal".

What are some alternatives to using "at no stage"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "never", "at no time", or "under no circumstances" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it more formal to use "at no stage" or "never"?

While both are grammatically correct, "at no stage" is generally considered more formal than "never". The choice depends on the tone and context of your writing.

What's the difference between "at no stage" and "at any stage"?

"At no stage" indicates that something did not happen at any point, while "at any stage" implies that something could have happened at some point. They have opposite meanings and should not be used interchangeably.