has not ever been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'has not ever been' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something has never happened. For example: "This famous artist has not ever been featured in any major magazine."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

"The United States has not ever been on the receiving end of this before".

The New York Times

But there is not and has not ever been a drop of personal animosity between Senator Kerry and Mayor Menino".

The New York Times

"[It] is a scale that I think has not ever been anticipated in terms of an Ebola outbreak," said Bruce Aylward, assistant director general of WHO.

The Guardian

"I would say the college is thoroughly immersed in the community, but the kind of unrestricted giving that other places enjoy the college has not ever been able to have," he said.

The New York Times

And not only do I think there has not ever been a barbershop on any Main Street that had a three-hour-and-20 minute wait, I don't know a single New Yorker who can afford to wait that long for a haircut".

The New York Times

Next, we compute the degradation of every user who has not ever been assigned with pilot sequences.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

It's just not part of Gaga's plan, and hasn't ever been.

The New Yorker

[There] hasn't ever been a less experienced pick for US ambassador to Israel".

The Guardian

Bernard "is trying to take IndyCar to a new level where it hasn't ever been before," Gretzky said.

The New York Times - Sports

Even if one hasn't ever been to Strawberry Fields, everyone has their own, just like John did.

The Guardian - Music

Of all the premature babies he has brought to normal size there hasn't ever been a genius.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has not ever been" to emphasize that something has genuinely never occurred, particularly when contrasting it with expectations or assumptions. For instance: "This level of public engagement has not ever been seen before, despite previous attempts."

Common error

Avoid using "has not ever been" in every instance where "has never been" would suffice. Overusing "ever" can make your writing sound awkward or repetitive. Vary your language for better readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has not ever been" functions as a negative perfective adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate that an action or state has at no time occurred. This is supported by Ludwig and examples found within, which are primarily used to negate the existence or occurrence of something.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has not ever been" is a grammatically correct and relatively common way to emphasize that something has never occurred. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is often used to negate the existence of something, particularly in News & Media and Science. While functionally similar to "has never been", "has not ever been" carries a slightly stronger emphasis. Overusing it can lead to awkwardness, so writers should vary their language and consider alternatives like "is unprecedented" for more formal contexts. Employ "has not ever been" judiciously to effectively convey a sense of complete absence or negation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has never been

This is the most direct and common synonym, using "never" instead of "not ever".

has not been before

This alternative focuses on the temporal aspect of something not existing previously.

hasn't been

A contraction of 'has not been', implying that something is missing or absent

had not ever been

Uses the past perfect tense to indicate something that had never happened up to a certain point in the past.

has not at any point been

Adds emphasis to the absence of something at any time.

has absolutely not been

Implies a strong negation or denial of something existing.

is unprecedented

Describes something as having no prior occurrence or parallel.

is without precedent

Another way to say that something is unique and without any historical comparison.

no instance of

Uses nominal construction. Used to say that something never existed.

is unheard of

Indicates that something is not known or has not been experienced before.

FAQs

What does "has not ever been" mean?

The phrase "has not ever been" means that something has never happened or existed at any time in the past. It's used to emphasize the complete absence of something.

Is "has not ever been" interchangeable with "has never been"?

While they are very similar, "has never been" is more common and generally preferred. "Has not ever been" adds a touch of emphasis, but can sometimes sound slightly awkward if overused. Consider the context when choosing between them.

How can I rephrase "has not ever been" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "is unprecedented" or "is without precedent". These options convey the same meaning while maintaining a higher level of formality.

When is it best to use "has not ever been" instead of "has never been"?

Use "has not ever been" when you want to strongly emphasize that something has absolutely never happened. It can be effective when contradicting a common belief or highlighting the uniqueness of a situation.