has never worked

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "has never worked" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever someone hasn't been able to complete a task successfully, or to describe a situation that has been the same for a long time. For example: "This printer has never worked since I bought it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This has never worked.

The Guardian - Opinion

He has never worked in newspapers.

Independent

She has never worked on securities fraud.

The New York Times

The system has never worked properly.

Independent

Unfortunately, it has never worked that way.

The New York Times

My mum has never worked.

The Guardian

I know a boy has never worked.

Yale University

It has never worked one out.

Harvard University

"That has never worked in the past".

The New York Times

That has never worked with men.

The New York Times

His mother, Amaal, 48, has never worked.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has never worked" to describe systems, methods, or ideas that have consistently failed to produce the desired result. Ensure the context clearly indicates what "working" would entail.

Common error

Avoid using "has never worked" when you mean 'has not worked recently' or 'has not worked in this specific instance'. The phrase implies a complete and consistent lack of functionality throughout its existence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has never worked" functions as a statement of ineffectiveness. It expresses that something has consistently failed to produce the desired result or operate as intended. Ludwig examples showcase its application across diverse scenarios.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has never worked" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate consistent ineffectiveness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, though it's crucial to use it accurately, ensuring the subject has genuinely shown a complete lack of functionality throughout its existence. The phrase is commonly found in news media, academic writing, and business communications. Alternatives like "has not been effective" or "has always failed" can provide nuanced variations while retaining the core meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hasn't ever functioned

Replaces 'worked' with 'functioned' and uses the contraction 'hasn't', creating a slightly more informal tone.

has not been effective

Substitutes the idea of 'working' with 'being effective', focusing on the lack of a positive outcome.

has always been unsuccessful

Emphasizes the consistent lack of success, using 'always' to highlight the ongoing issue.

has failed consistently

Focuses on the repeated failure, replacing 'never worked' with the idea of 'consistent failure'.

has proven ineffective

Highlights that the ineffectiveness has been demonstrated over time.

has not achieved the desired outcome

Shifts the focus to the lack of a specific, intended result.

remains non-functional

Uses 'non-functional' to describe the state, suggesting a more technical or formal context.

has consistently failed to deliver

Emphasizes the failure to meet expectations or provide results.

has never yielded results

Highlights the absence of any positive outcomes or benefits.

is perpetually broken

Suggests a state of continuous malfunction or damage.

FAQs

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

Use "has never worked" to describe something that has consistently failed to function or produce the desired results. For example, "That approach "has never worked" in this company".

What are some alternatives to "has never worked"?

Alternatives include "has not been effective", "has always failed", or "has proven ineffective", depending on the specific context.

Is it more formal to say "has not worked" instead of "has never worked"?

While "has not worked" can sometimes sound slightly more formal, ""has never worked"" emphasizes a consistent, ongoing lack of functionality, making it appropriate for many formal and informal contexts.

What's the difference between "has never worked" and "is not working"?

"Has never worked" implies a historical and consistent failure, while "is not working" suggests a current, potentially temporary, state of malfunction. For example, "This system "is not working" today" vs. "This system "has never worked" properly".