if not existed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "if not existed" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically intended to express a hypothetical situation regarding the existence of something, but the correct form should be "if it did not exist." Example: "The world would be a very different place if it did not exist."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Wiki

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Start Outlook with the temporary profile--it will create Inbox (if not existed), Sent Items, and mark the rest of default folders as non-deletable.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

if not exist c: \fr.htm echo c: \fr.htm #*start virus.bat # #Save the file as " want.

WikiHow

(b) If does not exist when, we have to consider the scenario in which.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

(c) If does not exist when, we have to consider the scenarios in which and so.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

It would therefore be wonderful if drugs did not exist or if no one had any need of them.

EU Parlament

It was as if they did not exist.

The New York Times

It was as if he did not exist".

The Guardian

"It is as if Port Morris does not exist," she said.

The New York Times

How could it if Catalonia does not exist (yet)?

The Guardian - Sport

If he does not exist, nothing will happen.

The Guardian - Opinion

That this is simply not mentioned, as if it does not exist, is surprising".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing a hypothetical condition about something that did not exist in the past, use "if it had not existed" or "if it did not exist" for present conditions. This ensures grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "if not existed" because it combines a conditional conjunction with an incomplete past tense. Always use a complete past tense form like "had not existed" or "did not exist".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "if not existed" is intended to introduce a conditional clause expressing a hypothetical scenario. However, it is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI states, it should be replaced with a grammatically correct alternative such as "if it did not exist" or "if it had not existed".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "if not existed" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. As Ludwig AI points out, correct alternatives include "if it did not exist" or "if it had not existed", depending on the intended tense. While examples exist across various sources, their presence does not validate the incorrect grammar. It's best to use the grammatically sound alternatives to maintain clarity and credibility in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

If it had not existed

Uses the past perfect tense to correctly express a hypothetical past condition.

If it did not exist

Uses the simple past tense to correctly express a hypothetical present condition.

If it weren't in existence

A more conversational rephrasing of the conditional.

Had it not been in existence

Emphasizes the past state of not existing.

Assuming it never existed

Replaces the 'if' clause with an assumption of non-existence.

Supposing it didn't exist

Uses "supposing" to introduce the hypothetical situation.

In the absence of its existence

Replaces the conditional clause with a prepositional phrase indicating a lack of existence.

On the condition that it was nonexistent

Formal rephrasing using 'on the condition that' to express a hypothetical non-existence.

Were it not to exist

A more formal and somewhat archaic way to express a hypothetical non-existence.

If its existence was not a reality

A more verbose and emphatic way of stating non-existence.

FAQs

How to correctly use a conditional statement about something that didn't exist?

Use "if it had not existed" for past hypothetical situations. For example, "The company would have failed if that investment "did not exist"".

What are some alternatives to "if not existed" that are grammatically correct?

Alternatives include "if it did not exist", "if it had not existed", or "in the absence of". The correct choice depends on whether you're referring to a past or present hypothetical.

Is "if not existed" considered grammatically correct in formal writing?

No, "if not existed" is not grammatically correct and should be avoided in formal writing. Use the correct form, such as "if it had not existed".

Which is more appropriate: "if it did not exist" or "if it had not existed"?

"If it did not exist" refers to a present or general hypothetical, while "if it had not existed" refers to a past hypothetical. For example, "The project would be impossible if the technology "did not exist"". "The project would have failed if that investment "had not existed"".