had really not

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had really not" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize a negation in the past, often in a reflective or explanatory context. Example: "I had really not expected such a warm welcome when I arrived."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

The right argued against making peace with a Palestinian leadership that had really not accepted Israel's right to exist.

The New York Times

D'Angelo, in a phone interview, said he was aware of the controversy, but had really not heard anything directly negative from his male fans.

The New York Times - Style

After the game, Torre acknowledged that his team had really not played that well, and that the starting pitcher David Cone "deserved a better fate".

The New York Times - Sports

Kissinger said that Nixon had really not changed the rules, because the first raids, in late 1971, were "not protective reaction in a strict sense, it was a punishment for [Hanoi's] acts and that had to be made clear".

The New Yorker

I had really not started writing for a broad audience out of science until my forties with books like "Sociobiology" and "On Human Nature," and various subjects in the environment, especially biological diversity.

The New Yorker

Looking at her father's face in the painting she is able to admit that he had really not been a gay man at all, but a retiring man who assumed ebullience to cheer himself up, and get along in a world he had no instinct to overwhelm.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

But "the technology has really not been there," he said.

The New York Times

"In many cases, fast food has really not been introduced".

The New York Times

"We have really not done any coaching – not at all.

The Guardian

"The industry has really not been engaged in advocacy related to carbon taxes or proposals addressing carbon," he said.

The New York Times

McEvoy said he would like to discuss the issue with the N.C.A.A., but "that dialogue has really not taken place".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had really not" to emphasize a lack of expectation or a surprising absence of something in the past. This phrase is particularly effective when correcting a misconception or highlighting an unforeseen circumstance.

Common error

Avoid using "had really not" in simple negative statements where "had not" suffices. Overusing "really" can dilute its emphasis and make your writing sound verbose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had really not" functions as a negated auxiliary verb phrase, modifying a main verb. According to Ludwig AI, it emphasizes the absence or lack of something in the past. Examples from Ludwig show its use in negating expectations or actions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had really not" is a grammatically correct way to emphasize a negation in the past. According to Ludwig AI, it is primarily used in News & Media contexts to highlight a contrast between expectation and reality. While not overly formal, it should be used judiciously to avoid redundancy. Alternatives like "had truly not" or "had genuinely not" can offer similar emphasis. Remember to use it where it truly adds value to the sentence by underscoring a surprising lack or absence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had genuinely not

Replaces "really" with "genuinely" to emphasize sincerity in the negation.

had truly not

Replaces "really" with "truly" to strengthen the negation.

had definitely not

Replaces "really" with "definitely" to express a firm negation.

had certainly not

Uses "certainly" instead of "really" to indicate a strong degree of assurance in the negation.

had absolutely not

Emphasizes the negation with "absolutely", indicating no possibility.

had in fact not

Adds "in fact" for emphasis, confirming the negation as a reality.

had actually not

Replaces "really" with "actually" to highlight the unexpected nature of the negation.

had not really

Changes the word order slightly while maintaining the core meaning.

had scarcely

Implies that something almost did not happen or exist.

had barely

Suggests a minimal degree of something having happened or existed.

FAQs

How can I use "had really not" in a sentence?

You can use "had really not" to emphasize a negation in the past, often indicating surprise or a change in expectation. For instance, "I "had really not expected" such a warm welcome after being away for so long."

What alternatives are there for "had really not"?

Alternatives include "had truly not", "had genuinely not", or "had definitely not", which offer similar emphasis on the negation.

Is it grammatically correct to use "had really not"?

Yes, "had really not" is grammatically correct. It follows the standard structure of past perfect tense with an adverb ("really") modifying the negation.

When is it best to use "had really not" over a simpler negation?

Use "had really not" when you want to add emphasis to the negation, especially when highlighting a contrast between what was expected and what actually occurred. It's useful when you "had really not anticipated" something.