has never held

USAGE SUMMARY

"has never held" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used in the present perfect tense to describe something that someone has never done in the past up until the present moment. Example: John has never held a job for longer than a month. (= He has never been able to keep a job for more than a month in the past and this is still true until now.) Example: She has never held a grudge, even when others have wronged her. (= She has never held onto negative feelings towards others in the past and this is still true in the present.).

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But he has never held high office.

The Economist

He has never held elected office before.

The Economist

He has never held public office.

The New York Times - Sports

Fiorina, 60, has never held public office.

The Guardian

But he has never held office, no.

The Guardian

He has never held political office.

The New York Times

It has never held these people accountable.

The Guardian

She has never held elective office.

The New York Times

He has never held elected office.

The New York Times

Mr. Toledo has never held high office.

The New York Times

Mr. Cruz, a lawyer, has never held elected office.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has never held" to describe someone's lack of experience, follow it with a specific noun or noun phrase to clarify what they haven't held (e.g., "He has never held public office").

Common error

Avoid using "has never held" when you should be using the simple past tense if the period in question is finished. For instance, say "he didn't hold office then" instead of "he has never held office then".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has never held" functions as a stative verb phrase in the present perfect tense, describing a state of not having previously possessed or occupied a certain position or role. Ludwig showcases numerous examples where this phrase is used to indicate a lack of prior experience, as shown in the Ludwig AI results.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Academia

27%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has never held" is a versatile and commonly used expression to indicate a lack of prior experience or possession. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and frequently appears in news articles, academic papers, and general discourse. The phrase functions as a stative verb phrase in the present perfect tense, serving the purpose of highlighting inexperience or novelty. While it maintains a neutral register, it's important to consider tense consistency and the specific noun being described. By following best practices and avoiding common errors, you can effectively use "has never held" to convey your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has not previously possessed

Replaces "held" with "possessed" and adds "previously" for emphasis, focusing on prior ownership or experience.

is without previous incumbency in

Formal and specific to positions or offices, emphasizing the lack of prior occupancy.

has not had prior experience in

Emphasizes lack of experience rather than direct holding, suitable for professional contexts.

lacks any prior involvement in

Highlights the absence of any kind of participation or engagement.

has no record of possessing

Highlights the lack of documented ownership or experience.

remains without ownership of

Shifts to a focus on a current state of lacking ownership, often used in legal or formal contexts.

has no history of maintaining

Focuses on the absence of a sustained or continued holding or possession.

has yet to obtain

Similar to "is still to acquire" but slightly more formal, suggesting an expected or desired acquisition.

is still to acquire

Indicates a future possibility of acquiring something, contrasting with the complete absence implied by "has never held".

is a stranger to

More idiomatic, indicating a complete unfamiliarity with something.

FAQs

How to use "has never held" in a sentence?

Use "has never held" to indicate a lack of prior experience or possession up to the present. For example, "She "has never held elected office"" or "He "has never held a leadership position"".

What can I say instead of "has never held"?

You can use alternatives like "has not previously held", "lacks experience in", or "is without", depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "has never held" or "had never held"?

"Has never held" is present perfect, indicating something that hasn't happened up to now. "Had never held" is past perfect, used to describe something that hadn't happened before a specific point in the past. The correct choice depends on the intended meaning and timeframe.

What's the difference between "has never held" and "does not hold"?

"Has never held" implies a complete lack of past experience. "Does not hold" refers to a present state. For example, "He "has never held public office"" means he has no history of holding it. "He "does not hold public office"" means he isn't currently in office.