had still not

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had still not" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has not happened up to a certain point in the past, often emphasizing the ongoing nature of the situation. Example: "Despite numerous attempts, she had still not received a response from the company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Construction had still not begun.

The New York Times - Arts

She had still not heard from Salim.

The New Yorker

She had still not heard me.

The New York Times - Magazine

His teammates had still not corralled any.

The New York Times - Sports

Yet he had still not seen any analysis of data.

The Guardian

Trump had still not appointed an Ambassador to South Korea.

The New Yorker

By 2 a.m., Mr. Diabate had still not arrived.

The New York Times - Travel

Seven minutes and 18 seconds later they had still not.

The Guardian - Sport

Months later, the intellectual penny had still not dropped.

The Guardian

Officials said the computer code had still not been cracked.

The New York Times

Ahmad had still not been convicted of any crime.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had still not", ensure the context clearly establishes the expected or desired outcome, so the lack of completion is understood. For example: "Despite repeated attempts, the issue "had still not" been resolved."

Common error

Avoid using "had still not" when a past perfect tense is not appropriate. This phrase describes a situation continuing up to a specific point in the past, not a simple past action. For example, it's incorrect to say "He "had still not" arrive yesterday" as you don't need past perfect here.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had still not" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating that an action or event did not occur up to a specific point in the past. As Ludwig AI highlights, it emphasizes the ongoing absence or incompletion of something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had still not" is a common adverbial phrase used to indicate the continued absence or incompletion of something up to a certain point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used. It's most commonly found in news and media contexts. Alternatives include "had not yet" and "still hadn't", though "had still not" often carries a stronger sense of expectation or disappointment. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly establishes the temporal relationship and the anticipated outcome.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had not yet

Focuses on the temporal aspect of incompletion, simply stating something didn't happen by a specific time.

hadn't yet

A contraction of "had not yet", providing the same meaning in a more informal tone.

still hadn't

Reorders the words for emphasis, highlighting that the lack of completion continues.

had failed to

Emphasizes the lack of success or ability to accomplish something.

had not managed to

Implies effort was made, but the task was not achieved.

had been unable to

Highlights an inability or lack of capacity to do something.

remained incomplete

Focuses on the state of being unfinished or unfulfilled.

was still pending

Suggests the matter was waiting for resolution or action.

had not been finalized

Specifically refers to something not being brought to a final or complete state.

the process was ongoing

Indicates the action or event is in progress or continues to happen. Less about a past action and more about an action that did or did not happen in the past.

FAQs

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

Use "had still not" to indicate that something expected or desired didn't happen up to a certain point in the past. For example: "By the end of the day, the package "had still not" arrived."

What are some alternatives to "had still not"?

Alternatives include "had not yet", "still hadn't", or "had failed to", depending on the context and emphasis you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "had still not" and "had not yet"?

"Had still not" emphasizes the unexpected or continued absence of something, while "had not yet" is a more neutral statement that something simply didn't happen by a certain time. The key difference lies in the emphasis.

When is it appropriate to use "had still not" instead of "did not"?

Use "had still not" when you're discussing a past event and emphasizing that something hadn't occurred up to that point. Use "did not" for simple past actions. Example: "By the time I left, he "had still not" called" (emphasizing the continued absence) versus "He did not call yesterday" (simple past action).