denied existed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "denied existed" is not correct in English and does not convey a clear meaning.
It seems to be an attempt to express that something was denied to exist, but the construction is awkward and incorrect. Example: "The claim that the evidence was denied existed in the debate, but it was never substantiated."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

In 2002, her group found a 1952 government document listing 83,000 South Koreans as kidnapped, a preliminary wartime compilation that officials had previously denied existed.

The New York Times

Seventeen days after that, according to the F.B.I, she was found stabbed to death by the pimp she had so adamantly denied existed.

The New York Times

In another case, the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea used satellite imagery to expose the huge prison camps in the country that the government denied existed.

The Guardian

At another point, Nel read out loud in Afrikaans from a magazine article in which Pistorius is quoted speaking happily about his house in Italy — a house that his lawyer had emphatically denied existed.

The New Yorker

In a stinging attack on the group, he revealed that his own grandmother was one of the Jewish victims of the Nazi deathcamps - which the BNP leader, Nick Griffin, has denied existed.

The Guardian

In Daytona Beach, Fla., however, ending the practice of counting the value of in-kind contributions in campaign totals -- a practice that the United Way of America last year vigorously denied existed -- eliminated roughly $400,000 from the campaign results, which fell 18.8percenttoto $3.4 million, said Thomas M. McClelland, the former chairman of the United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Earlier this year, Google announced a new map of North Korea that includes subway stops, schools and labor camps, which the government has always denied exist.

The New York Times - Books

Sanders promised to fight Trump on environmental regulations, and said he wanted millions to campaign on forcing Republicans to action on climate change, which Trump has denied exists.

The Guardian

In 2008, the Polish Foreign Ministry asked the government of Russia about alleged footage of the massacre filmed by the NKVD during the killings, something the Russians have denied exists.

Wikipedia

Similarly, Donald Trump gives life to some overtly racist positions that white folks would likely deny existed in the mainstream but for that Donald Trump actually has the temerity to say them.

Huffington Post

It would predict that the intuitively true and meaningful (4) is absurd (as its meaningfulness presupposes the existence of what it denies exists).

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "denied existed". Instead, use grammatically correct alternatives such as "denied the existence of" or "denied that it existed" to ensure clarity and correctness in your writing.

Common error

The incorrect order of verbs in "denied existed" often leads to confusion. Always ensure that the verb "deny" is followed by a noun phrase (e.g., "the existence") or a clause (e.g., "that it existed") for grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "denied existed" functions incorrectly as a verb phrase attempting to express the act of denying something's existence. According to Ludwig AI, it's not a standard or grammatically sound construction. The examples show varied attempts to use this phrase, but they highlight its incorrect usage rather than proper application.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "denied existed" is grammatically incorrect and not recommended for use in standard English. Ludwig AI confirms that it is not a proper construction. While examples can be found, primarily in news and media sources, they serve to illustrate the error rather than validate its usage. To express the idea of refuting something's existence, it is best to use grammatically correct alternatives such as "denied the existence of" or "denied that it existed". Avoiding this phrase will ensure clarity and correctness in your writing, maintaining credibility and professionalism.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

denied the existence of

Replaces the incorrect phrase with a grammatically correct construction using "existence".

denied that it existed

Adds the relative pronoun "that" to create a proper clause.

claimed it did not exist

Uses "claimed" to indicate the act of denial and restructures the sentence for better flow.

refuted its existence

Employs the word "refuted", indicating a strong denial, along with the noun "existence".

asserted it was nonexistent

Uses "asserted" to show a strong statement of non-existence.

maintained it never existed

Emphasizes the continuous nature of the denial.

flatly denied its existence

Adds "flatly" to underscore the directness and firmness of the denial.

rejected the notion it existed

Uses "rejected the notion" to frame the denial as a rejection of an idea or concept.

dismissed its existence

Suggests the existence was considered and then rejected as unimportant or untrue.

disavowed its existence

Uses "disavowed" to indicate a formal denial or renunciation of something.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the idea of denying something's existence in a sentence?

Use phrases like "denied the existence of" or "denied that it existed" for grammatical accuracy. These alternatives clearly convey the intended meaning.

What's a more formal way to say something didn't exist after it was denied?

You can use terms like "refuted its existence" or "disavowed its existence" to imply a stronger, more formal denial.

Is it ever correct to say "denied existed" in English?

No, "denied existed" is not grammatically correct in standard English. Always rephrase using proper grammatical structures such as "denied the existence of".

What are some alternatives to "denied existed" that still convey a strong sense of disagreement or disbelief?

Consider using phrases like "rejected the notion it existed" or "dismissed its existence" to convey a strong sense of disagreement while maintaining grammatical correctness.