have not discovered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have not discovered" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that something has not been found or realized yet. Example: "Despite extensive research, scientists have not discovered a cure for the disease."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

Coehlo says: "We have not discovered all that is there to be discovered".

The Guardian

What they have not discovered is whether more complex songs can be decomposed into separately meaningful elements.

The Economist

But along the way to an average season, Khoury and Gallagher still have not discovered their new normal.

The New York Times - Sports

Darwinian Evolution is a logic which is applicable to all life forms and all biosystems that may exist in the universe, even the ones we have not discovered.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

ELIZABETH KOLBERT: I have to point out here that I have not discovered any differences — I was simply reporting on what others have discovered.

The New Yorker

Chelsea said yesterday that they have not discovered any cases of swine flu among their players or staff and are not concerned by the situation.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

"But we certainly haven't discovered it".

The New York Times

They haven't discovered each other yet.

Yale University

Archaeologists haven't discovered porg bones.

The Washington Post

Monsters we haven't discovered yet.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Unfortunately, we haven't discovered what to do about aging".

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Maintain a formal tone when using "have not discovered" in business or academic writing. Replace with an alternative in informal settings.

Common error

Avoid using "have not discovered" when a simpler past tense like "did not discover" is more appropriate. Use "have not discovered" to emphasize the ongoing relevance of the absence of discovery.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have not discovered" functions as a negative present perfect construction. It's used to indicate that something has not been found or realized up to the present time. This construction often implies an ongoing search or possibility of future discovery, as demonstrated by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have not discovered" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that indicates something is yet to be found or realized. According to Ludwig, this phrase is prevalent in news, science, and academic contexts, highlighting ongoing searches or limitations. When using "have not discovered", consider the appropriate tense and ensure the context clearly defines what remains undiscovered. Alternative phrases like "have yet to discover" or "have not found" can be used depending on the specific nuance you aim to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have yet to discover

Emphasizes the passage of time until the discovery occurs; highlights anticipation.

have not found

Focuses on the absence of finding something searched for.

remain unaware of

Indicates a lack of knowledge about something.

have not identified

Highlights the absence of recognition or specification.

have failed to find

Emphasizes the unsuccessful attempt to locate something.

are still searching for

Indicates an ongoing effort to find something.

have not encountered

Highlights the lack of experience or contact with something.

have not stumbled upon

Suggests an absence of accidental finding or discovery.

have yet to unearth

Highlights the work needed for discovery.

have not conceived

Focuses on a failure to imagine or understand something

FAQs

What can I say instead of "have not discovered"?

You can use alternatives like "have yet to discover", "have not found", or "remain unaware of" depending on the context.

How to use "have not discovered" in a sentence?

Use "have not discovered" to indicate that something is yet to be found or realized. For example, "Researchers "have not discovered" a new species in this region."

Is "have not discovered" grammatically correct?

Yes, "have not discovered" is grammatically correct. It's the present perfect negative form of the verb "discover", used to describe something that has not happened up to the present moment.

What is the difference between "have not discovered" and "did not discover"?

"Have not discovered" implies the possibility of future discovery. "Did not discover" simply states that something was not found at a specific time, without implying whether it could be found later.