has never functioned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has never functioned" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that has not operated or performed its intended purpose at any point in time. Example: "The old machine has never functioned properly, despite numerous repairs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

But he has never functioned on the court at the same level since.

The New York Times - Magazine

Perhaps Mr. Gunn can tell us why it is that this new and expensive system has never functioned properly.

The New York Times

He is considered a likely future leader of Congress, which has never functioned for long without a Gandhi or a Nehru in charge.

The Economist

Complicating Salvador's mobility challenges are the public transportation debacles symbolized by a lavishly expensive subway system that somehow has never functioned.

The New York Times

Judge Reggie Walton's ruling that the N.S.A.'s regime for safeguarding the privacy of Americans whose data is collected in the metadata program "has never functioned effectively".

The New Yorker

Walton writes that the N.S.A.'s regime for safeguarding the privacy of Americans whose data is collected in the metadata program "has never functioned effectively".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

"But since leaving the service, I have never functioned in any intelligence capacity".

The New York Times - Magazine

And for a miraculous reason... it functioned; it functioned like socialism had never functioned anywhere else in the world in my view.

The Guardian

An inquiry determined that the chemical used in the attack was a liquid component from old French tear gas grenades that had never functioned properly.

Wikipedia

After all, he had never run some of the functions, had never managed so many people, had no experience with external analyst relations, and had not demonstrated significant change management skills.

Harvard Business Review

In a country that has never had a functioning democracy in its 5,000-year 5,000-yearlections in Afghistoryn may not satisfy Amelectionsurnalints.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has never functioned", ensure the context clearly indicates what is expected to function. Specify the subject and its intended function for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "has never functioned" without providing specific details. Saying 'the system has never functioned' is less effective than 'the system has never functioned as intended due to software glitches'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has never functioned" primarily serves as a verb phrase indicating that something has consistently failed to operate or perform its intended action. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has never functioned" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to express that something has consistently failed to operate or fulfill its intended purpose. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable in written English. Its usage spans across various contexts, including news, science, and business, indicating its versatility. While suitable for formal and informal settings, it's crucial to provide specific details about what is expected to function. Related phrases offer alternative ways to express similar meanings, adding nuance and variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has not ever worked

Replaces "functioned" with "worked" and adds "ever" for emphasis.

has never been operational

Substitutes "functioned" with the more formal "operational".

has always been non-functional

Changes the structure to emphasize a continuous state of being non-functional.

has failed to operate at any time

Emphasizes the failure to operate throughout its existence.

has not once performed correctly

Highlights the absence of correct performance even once.

has remained inactive since inception

Focuses on the lack of activity from the beginning.

has not fulfilled its purpose

Shifts the focus to the intended purpose not being achieved.

has been consistently defective

Highlights a consistent state of defectiveness preventing proper function.

hasn't worked from day one

An informal version highlighting the continuous absence of function.

has proved to be useless

Indicates that it never reach its intended purpose.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "has never functioned"?

Alternatives include "has not ever worked", "has always been non-functional", or "has failed to operate at any time".

Is "has never functioned" formal or informal?

The phrase "has never functioned" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal settings, "has never been operational" may be preferable.

What's the difference between "has never functioned" and "no longer functions"?

"Has never functioned" indicates something that has not worked at any point. "No longer functions" implies it previously worked but is now inoperable.

Can "has never functioned" apply to abstract concepts?

Yes, "has never functioned" can describe both physical objects and abstract concepts. For example, 'the communication strategy has never functioned effectively'.