has never been

USAGE SUMMARY

"has never been" is a perfectly valid and commonly used phrase in written English.
For example: "Oscar has never been to Hawaii."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Writing has never been easy.

Independent

This has never been confirmed.

The Economist

He has never been attacked.

The New Yorker

It has never been amended.

The Economist

(It has never been revived).

The New Yorker

Joseph has never been bullied".

The New York Times

It has never been clubbable.

The New York Times - Books

It has never been rebroadcast.

Independent

He has never been stumped.

The New Yorker

Demand has never been greater.

The Economist

She has never been married.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has never been" to emphasize the absence of a previous occurrence or experience. This can add weight to your statement, highlighting its novelty or uniqueness.

Common error

Avoid stacking negative constructions like "has never not been" which can confuse the reader. Opt for a positive phrasing if possible to improve clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has never been" functions as a present perfect construction, indicating that something did not occur at any time in the past up to the present moment. According to Ludwig AI, this construction is common and grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has never been" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate the absence of something in the past up to the present. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage. It frequently appears in news and media, science, and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure clarity and avoid convoluted negative constructions. Alternative phrases include "has not existed" or "is unprecedented".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has not happened

Emphasizes the non-occurrence of an event.

was never before

Simple past tense, emphasizing a lack of prior existence.

has not existed

Focuses on the non-existence of something, rather than the absence of a past event.

is without precedent

A more formal version of "is unprecedented".

is unprecedented

Indicates that something is novel and without prior parallel.

has not come to pass

Focuses on an event that was expected but did not occur.

has remained untouched

Highlights the untouched or unaltered state of something.

lacks a prior instance

Highlights the absence of a previous example or occurrence.

remains unseen

Emphasizes that something is not visible or noticed.

has yet to materialize

Emphasizes that something is still in the process of becoming real.

FAQs

How can I use "has never been" in a sentence?

Use "has never been" to indicate that something hasn't happened or existed before, for instance, "This opportunity "has never been" offered to me before".

What are some alternatives to "has never been"?

Alternatives include "has not existed", "is unprecedented", or "has not happened", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "had never been" instead of "has never been"?

The choice between "had never been" and "has never been" depends on the time frame. "Has never been" refers to a period extending to the present, while "had never been" refers to a time before a specific point in the past.

What is the difference between "has never been" and "has not been"?

"Has never been" implies that something has not occurred at any point in the past until now, whereas "has not been" suggests a more recent or temporary absence. For instance, "The door "has never been" locked" versus "The door "has not been" locked today".