did not assert

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "did not assert" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone failed to make a claim or statement about something. Example: "The witness did not assert that he saw the defendant at the scene of the crime."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Hiles did not assert a negligence claim under FELA.

Cornell University

He did not assert it as a fact.

Independent

CNET did not assert that this provision barred Jana's nominations.

The New York Times

Di Re did not assert this ground of invalidity at the trial.

Cornell University

It did not assert that a college education, by itself, was responsible for all those differences.

The New York Times

To seize Kelo's pink house, New London did not assert blight.

The Washington Post

The Taliban issued a brief statement on the attack but did not assert responsibility.

The Washington Post

President Barack Obama did not assert privilege over a single document.

The Washington Post

The S.E.C. charges did not assert that any insider trading had taken place.

The New York Times

The United States did not assert that Pakistan supported the hijacking itself.

The New York Times

As citizens we did not assert rights, we supplicated for permission.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "did not assert" when you want to clearly indicate that a specific claim or statement was not made, especially in legal, formal, or analytical contexts. For example, "The report did not assert any direct link between the two events."

Common error

Avoid using "did not assert" when a softer negation is more appropriate. For instance, if someone hinted at something but didn't explicitly say it, "did not assert" might be too strong. Consider alternatives like "did not imply" or "did not suggest".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "did not assert" functions as a verbal phrase that negates the action of asserting. It indicates the absence of a declaration, claim, or affirmation. As Ludwig AI explains, it's used to show that someone failed to make a claim or statement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "did not assert" is a versatile phrase used to indicate the absence of a claim or statement. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It's common in various contexts, including news, academia, and legal settings, maintaining a neutral to formal tone. Alternatives like "did not claim" or "did not state" offer similar meanings with slight variations in formality. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the absence of a specific assertion, avoiding confusion with weaker denials or incorrect prepositional usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not claim

Replaces "assert" with "claim", indicating a less formal declaration.

did not state

Substitutes "assert" with "state", suggesting a neutral and direct expression.

did not allege

Replaces "assert" with "allege", implying an assertion without proof.

did not maintain

Uses "maintain" instead of "assert", conveying a lack of sustained declaration.

did not contend

Substitutes "assert" with "contend", suggesting a lack of argument or position.

refrained from asserting

Indicates a conscious decision not to make an assertion.

declined to assert

Implies a refusal to make a formal statement or claim.

did not profess

Replaces assert with profess, indicating lack of avowal of a belief.

did not affirm

Substitutes "assert" with "affirm", suggesting a lack of confirmation or validation.

did not avow

Replaces assert with avow, indicating a lack of open declaration or admission.

FAQs

How can I use "did not assert" in a sentence?

You can use "did not assert" to indicate that someone refrained from making a specific claim or statement. For example: "The witness "did not assert" that she saw the defendant at the scene."

What's a more formal alternative to "did not assert"?

While "did not assert" is already fairly formal, you could use "declined to assert" or "refrained from asserting" to emphasize the deliberate nature of withholding the statement.

What can I say instead of "did not assert"?

You can use alternatives like "did not claim", "did not state", or "did not allege" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "did not assert to"?

The correct phrasing is "did not assert" without the preposition "to". For example, "He "did not assert" ownership of the property" is correct.