at nowhere

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at nowhere" is not correct and is not usable in written English.
It is typically intended to convey the idea of being in no specific place, but the correct expression would be "nowhere." Example: "I searched for my keys, but they were at nowhere to be found."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Older XP computers can run Windows 7, though at nowhere near the spritely rate of newer ones.

The Economist

For now, the American economy is running at nowhere near the speed necessary to bring unemployment down.

The Economist

Haunted Child Two end-of-year arrivals find a pair of London venues at nowhere near their prime.

The New York Times - Arts

There were also signs that audiences were slowly beginning to buy tickets again, although at nowhere near preattack levels.

The New York Times

The group found that the best available data suggested that whites were not dying in greater numbers and certainly at nowhere near the rate that Mr. Hofmeyr asserted.

The New York Times

He said that charges at Gatwick would rise to pay for the expansion, but at "nowhere near the levels that Heathrow is talking about".

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

N55's first showing came that year at the NowHere exhibition at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, north of Copenhagen, to mark the city's year as European cultural capital.

The Guardian

I was at home nowhere... and at home everywhere.

Huffington Post

Is she at home nowhere?

The New York Times - Books

| July 17-18 at 8: "Nowhere in Africa" (2002, Caroline Link; in German and Swahili).

The New Yorker

The new apprenticeships they claim are almost a lie, at least nowhere near the truth.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "at nowhere" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "nowhere", "not anywhere", or "in no place" to ensure clarity and professionalism.

Common error

The incorrect usage of "at" before "nowhere" often stems from a misunderstanding of how prepositions function. Remember that "nowhere" itself implies a location (or lack thereof), so a preposition is generally unnecessary and grammatically incorrect. Avoid saying "at nowhere" and opt for simply "nowhere".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at nowhere" functions incorrectly as a prepositional phrase attempting to specify a location, but violating standard English grammar. As Ludwig AI explains, the expression is incorrect.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "at nowhere" appears in various contexts, particularly in News & Media sources, it is considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI clarifies that the correct form to express the absence of a location is simply "nowhere". Therefore, it's advisable to use alternatives like "nowhere", "not anywhere", or "in no place" in both formal and informal writing to maintain grammatical accuracy and clarity. The phrase's prevalence doesn't justify its use over grammatically sound options.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in no place

This expresses the idea of not being in any specific location.

not anywhere

This phrase conveys a similar meaning of absence of location, but is grammatically correct.

nowhere to be found

This alternative is an idiomatic expression indicating something cannot be located.

cannot be located

This alternative denotes the impossibility of finding something.

going nowhere

This phrase means making no progress or achieving no results.

not present

A more general phrase that can refer to the absence of a thing or person in a certain place.

nowhere near

This phrase means not close to a certain level or quality.

in the middle of nowhere

This phrase implies a remote, isolated location, unlike the general absence implied by "at nowhere".

out of nowhere

This implies something appearing suddenly or unexpectedly.

absent from all locations

This is a formal way to denote not being present in any location.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "at nowhere"?

No, the phrase "at nowhere" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct way to express the absence of a location is simply "nowhere".

What can I say instead of "at nowhere"?

Alternatives include "nowhere", "not anywhere", or "in no place", depending on the context.

What does "nowhere to be found" mean?

"Nowhere to be found" is an idiomatic expression indicating that something or someone cannot be located, often after a search.

How does "at nowhere" compare to "nowhere near" in meaning?

"Nowhere" indicates an absence of location, while "nowhere near" implies not close to a certain level or quality. They have distinct meanings and usages.