but ever again

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but ever again" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a sense of finality or a strong desire not to repeat an action in the future. Example: "I promised myself I would never trust him but ever again would I allow him into my life."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The question is not just whether he is the best person to do it; it is also whether the vehicle itself is still working; whether indeed this is a party which can govern on its own not just after Thursday, but ever again.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

After the great year of 1967, he kept making movies, but nothing ever again matched the impact and power of the films he had made in the previous 10 years.

The Guardian - Film

Now don't get the wrong idea; I'm not trying to climb up on a soapbox and tell you how wonderful "Broetry" is or that you should never read any other book but mine ever again.

Huffington Post

But no jam ever again?

The Times

Other children's agencies and charities will carry on doing good work, but none will ever again be as daring or as provocative.

Independent

You can try to chicken out of the debates, but don't ever again claim that you provide strong leadership".

BBC

"I fully intend to carry on the campaign but probably won't be doing anything in Russia ever again but Greenpeace man 'relief' over chargescertainly the campaign won't stop here".

BBC

Supreme had no plans to glitterbomb anyone ever again, but the college had simmered about the incident.

The Washington Post

The cost wasn't measured just in blood and treasure but in our ability ever again to trust governments.

The Guardian - Arts

"I wouldn't want to go through it ever again – but the experience has shaped and improved me.

The Guardian - Sport

But whether Harvey will ever again be as dominant as he was for much of this season remains to be seen.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "but ever again" to connect a contrasting idea with a preceding statement while emphasizing that something will not happen repeatedly in the future. This construction adds a degree of emphasis to the idea of non-recurrence.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "but ever again" can sound somewhat redundant or overly emphatic in many contexts. Consider whether a simpler construction like "but never again" or just "but not again" would be more effective and less cumbersome.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but ever again" functions as a conjunctional phrase. It connects two contrasting ideas, with the 'but' introducing the contrast and 'ever again' emphasizing the non-repetition of an action or situation. Ludwig AI identifies its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "but ever again" is a grammatically correct conjunctional phrase used to express a contrast coupled with a strong assertion against repetition. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is valid but rare. Its function is to emphasize that something will not occur in the future, often after a negative experience. While its register is mostly neutral and most common in "News & Media", simpler alternatives like "but never again" are often preferred for conciseness. Consider the context carefully to ensure the emphasis is warranted.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

but never again

Replaces "ever" with "never", creating a stronger sense of finality and negation.

but not ever again

Adds "not" for emphasis, reinforcing the negative aspect of the phrase.

however, never again

Replaces "but" with "however" for a more formal tone, while retaining "never again" for emphasis.

yet never again

Uses "yet" instead of "but", suggesting a contrast despite a previous expectation.

but then again, never

Inverts the structure to emphasize the lack of repetition.

but not any more

Expresses a cessation of something, similar to "never again", but less absolute.

but from now on, never

Adds a temporal marker ("from now on") to emphasize the future absence of the action.

but in the future, never

Similar to the previous phrase, but with a more explicit reference to the future.

but henceforth, never

Uses the formal "henceforth" to indicate a future change, paired with "never".

although, never again

Replaces "but" with "although" indicating a concession, while retaining the strong negation of "never again".

FAQs

How can I use "but ever again" in a sentence?

Use "but ever again" to introduce a contrasting idea with a sense of finality or to strongly indicate that something will not be repeated. For instance, "I tried it once, but "never again" will I attempt such a risky endeavor."

What's a less emphatic alternative to "but ever again"?

Consider using phrases like "but never again" or "but not again" for a similar meaning with a slightly reduced emphasis on the finality.

Is there a difference in formality between "but ever again" and "but never again"?

While both are acceptable, "but never again" tends to be more common and versatile across different registers. "But ever again" can sometimes sound slightly more formal or literary.

Which is more common, "but ever again" or "but never again"?

"But never again" is significantly more common. "But ever again" is grammatically valid but used far less frequently.