ever being

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ever being" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a continuous state, or something that is ongoing, or for an action that is taking place or has taken place. Example: She wondered if she had ever been truly happy.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Met denies ever being told this.

The Guardian

He was sharp without ever being cruel.

The Guardian - Books

Imagine living your life without ever being able to forget.

Independent

Like, successfully uploaded onto the Internet, without ever being canceled.

The New York Times

I can't imagine myself ever being put in that situation.

The Guardian - Music

The precious artwork was banned from ever being moved again.

Independent

Many illnesses will resolve without a diagnosis ever being reached.

Encyclopedia Britannica

I hate bullies and discrimination and ever being treated badly.

Independent

There is no such thing as ever being content.

The New York Times

No one remembers this ever being done before.

The New York Times

I don't recall ever being embarrassed by his behavior.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ever being" to express a state or action that has occurred at any point in the past, especially when emphasizing the duration or possibility of the state or action.

Common error

Avoid using "ever being" when referring to specific, isolated instances in the past. Instead, opt for simpler past tenses or perfect tenses to denote completed actions without implying a continuous state.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ever being" functions as a gerund phrase, often used as a noun. It describes a state or action that has potentially occurred at any point in the past. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its versatility in expressing past experiences or conditions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ever being" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed gerund phrase used to indicate a state or action that has occurred at some point in the past. According to Ludwig AI, it's considered correct and suitable for describing continuous or ongoing states. Its usage spans various contexts, with prominence in news, media, and scientific publications. While versatile, writers should avoid using "ever being" for specific, isolated past events. Instead, aim to use it when emphasizing the potential or duration of a past state or action. By keeping this in mind you will greatly improve the quality of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

having ever been

Focuses on the completed action of 'being' at some point in the past.

to have ever been

Emphasizes the possibility or potential for 'being' in the past.

of ever being

Indicates a characteristic or quality related to "ever being".

potentially being

Highlights the possibility of the 'being' action happening.

possibly being

Similar to 'potentially being', but with a slightly lower degree of certainty.

before being

Indicates a sequence of events, with 'being' occurring after something else.

prior to being

More formal alternative to 'before being'.

upon being

Suggests that something happens immediately after the state of 'being' is achieved.

while being

Indicates that something happens during the state of "being".

during being

Alternative to "while being", emphasizing simultaneous actions.

FAQs

How can I use "ever being" in a sentence?

Use "ever being" to describe a state or action that has occurred at any point in the past. For example, "I don't recall ever being so happy."

What are some alternatives to "ever being"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "having ever been", "to have ever been", or "potentially being".

Is it correct to say "never being" instead of "ever being" in negative contexts?

Yes, "never being" is appropriate when you want to emphasize the absence of something at any point in the past. Example: "Imagine living your life without ever being able to forget" vs "Imagine living your life never being able to forget".

What's the difference between "ever being" and "always being"?

"Ever being" suggests an action or state that has happened at least once in the past, whereas "always being" implies a continuous state. For example, "I don't remember ever being hugged by her" versus "She is always being helpful".