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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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could have never known

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could have never known" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express that someone was unable to know or predict something in the past. Example: "I could have never known that my decision would lead to such unexpected consequences."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The I.O.C. said she could have never known about the new rule, said Howard Jacobs, her lawyer.

Charlie Beck, Los Angeles police chief, immediately defended the district's decision: "It is very easy in hindsight to criticize a decision based on results that the deciders could have never known.

News & Media

Independent

But Zahra could have never known that when she entered a contest on Travel Blog California, she was about to win the best prize of her life.

News & Media

Huffington Post

"It is very easy in hindsight to criticize a decision based on results that the deciders could have never known," Charlie Beck, the current LAPD chief, said at a follow-up press conference Tuesday.

News & Media

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Observers fear the crisis could plunge DRC, which has never known a peaceful transfer of power since gaining independence from Belgium in 1960, into a prolonged period of instability.

News & Media

The Guardian

And after seeing a newspaper story about the residents buried in unmarked graves at Letchworth Village in Rockland County, N.Y., she resolved to find out what she could about the brother she had never known.

News & Media

The New York Times

Born in France, the grandchild of Armenian genocide survivors, dance was one of the few ways I could connect with a homeland I had never known.

"I had never known someone who could be so honest and so blatantly stupid," Mickie Krzyzewski told me.

An English friend said of her, "I've never known anyone who could listen so hard!" and Xinran listened as the past poured through her headphones.

Indeed, the scene at the Falluja Youth Center this week seemed a validation of every idealistic notion that democracy could take root in a land that has never known it.

News & Media

The New York Times

It always sounds odd when I say this because I am sure that people who have brought up children with both biological parents present can't imagine that what I am about to say could be proper - but because my son has never known anything else, our situation is the norm.' Did she think it easier for a child to grow up with a single mother rather than live through an acrimonious divorce?

News & Media

The Guardian
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "could have never known" to express a genuine lack of prior knowledge or ability to predict an outcome. Ensure the context clearly indicates that the knowledge was impossible to obtain at the time.

Common error

Avoid using "could have never known" when referring to situations where knowledge could have been obtained with more effort or investigation. This phrase is best reserved for scenarios where the information was truly inaccessible.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

87%

Authority and reliability

4.1/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could have never known" functions as a modal phrase expressing a past inability to know or anticipate something. As evidenced by Ludwig, it is typically used to convey that a piece of information was impossible to ascertain at a specific point in the past.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "could have never known" is used to express a past inability to know or predict something. Ludwig's analysis indicates that it is grammatically correct and is typically found in news and media contexts. While semantically similar phrases like "could not have foreseen" or "had no way of knowing" exist, it's important to use "could have never known" when emphasizing a genuine lack of prior knowledge, rather than a lack of effort in obtaining information. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is suitable for various contexts but ensure that is best reserved for scenarios where the information was truly inaccessible.

FAQs

What does "could have never known" mean?

It expresses the idea that someone was completely unable to know or predict something in the past. It implies that the knowledge was impossible to obtain at the time.

Which is more appropriate, "could never have known" or "could have never known"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct and convey the same meaning. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference or stylistic considerations, but the second is generally more common.

What can I say instead of "could have never known"?

You can use alternatives like "could not have foreseen", "had no way of knowing", or "never would have guessed" depending on the context.

Is "could have never known" formal or informal?

The phrase is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, as long as it suits the tone and the topic.

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Source & Trust

87%

Authority and reliability

4.1/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: