did not realize

USAGE SUMMARY

"did not realize" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you need to express that someone did not become aware of something until after it had already happened. For example: "He did not realize the full extent of the damage until the repairs had been completed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And Woods did not realize his gaffe.

The New York Times - Sports

She did not realize just how hard.

The New York Times

Some did not realize what was happening.

The New York Times

"He probably did not realize," he said.

The New York Times

He did not realize it, of course.

The New York Times - Science

We did not realize how long that would be.

Princeton University

Unfortunately, we did not realize this in 2004.

Stanford University

All the people of Stod did not realize this.

Columbia University

I did not realize the band stopped playing for Commencement.

Princeton University

They did not realize their honor needed defending.

The New York Times

"I did not realize how it would be," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "did not realize" to highlight a change in perception or awareness, emphasizing the moment of understanding. It often implies a prior state of ignorance or misunderstanding.

Common error

Avoid using "did not realize" in situations where 'never knew' or 'was always aware' is more appropriate. "Did not realize" implies a point of change, not a continuous state.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "did not realize" functions as a verb phrase expressing a past state of unawareness or lack of comprehension. It signifies a change in understanding, indicating that the subject was previously unaware of something but later gained that knowledge. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Academia

28%

Science

23%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "did not realize" is a very common and grammatically correct phrase used to express a past state of unawareness or a change in understanding. As Ludwig AI points out, it's a widely used phrase. Predominantly found in News & Media, Academic, and Scientific sources, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure you clearly indicate when the realization occurred to enhance clarity. Alternatives such as "was unaware" or "had no idea" can be used to convey similar meanings. Avoid misusing the tense and ensure it reflects a genuine change in perception.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had no idea

Emphasizes a complete lack of knowledge, suggesting a stronger absence of information.

was unaware

Focuses on a state of not knowing, shifting from the process of realizing to the condition of being uninformed.

was oblivious to

Suggests a lack of awareness due to being distracted or unobservant, conveying a sense of detachment.

wasn't conscious of

Highlights a lack of conscious awareness, implying the information was not within one's perception.

failed to notice

Highlights an oversight or lack of attention, emphasizing the act of missing something.

hadn't grasped

Focuses on failing to fully understand or comprehend something at the time.

didn't apprehend

Focuses on a failure to grasp or understand something, emphasizing a cognitive aspect.

missed the fact that

Directly points to missing or not acknowledging a specific fact or detail.

overlooked

Implies a negligent failure to observe or consider, suggesting a more active form of missing something.

it escaped my notice

Emphasizes that something was not observed or registered by the speaker.

FAQs

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

Use "did not realize" to indicate a lack of awareness or understanding at a specific point in time. For example, "I "did not realize" how difficult the task would be until I started working on it."

What are some alternatives to "did not realize"?

Alternatives include "was unaware", "failed to notice", or "had no idea". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "I didn't realize it until later"?

Yes, that's a perfectly acceptable and common way to use "did not realize". It clearly indicates that the realization occurred after a certain event or time.

What's the difference between "did not realize" and "did not know"?

"Did not know" generally refers to a continuous state of lacking information, while "did not realize" suggests a point of change in awareness. For example, "I "did not know" his name" implies you never knew it, while "I "did not realize" he was the manager" suggests you learned it later.