is never before

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is never before" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a concept of something that has not occurred at any prior time, but it lacks context for proper usage. Example: "This situation is unprecedented; it is never before seen in our history."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The fact is, never before has social media played such a pivotal role for opinion-forming and in a way, it has been the surrogate for the cracker-barrel-talks.

Huffington Post

This is never before.

The New Yorker

What's concerning is that Mobento seems to think this is never before seen technology.

TechCrunch

That's leading some security companies (Cyvera is one example I wrote about this week) to think outside the box for how to tackle problems specifically around zero-day (that is, never before identified and solved) attacks.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The costumes are never-before-worn clothes from the '70s.

Huffington Post

He's never before voted SNP, but he's now considering it, disillusioned with Labour.

The Guardian

People did what was never before possible: they gathered on the streets and spoke their minds.

The New York Times

Tobacco Stain Prices of cigars and tobacco were never before so excessively high as they are today.

Forbes

Probability model-based imputation methods overcome such limitations but were never before applied to the WOMAC.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

"I know it's never been before," he said.

Huffington Post

"It's never been tried before".

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "is never before" in formal writing. Instead, opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "has never been" or "is unprecedented" to ensure clarity and credibility.

Common error

The phrase "is never before" often results from a misunderstanding of proper tense usage and word order in English. To avoid this, ensure the verb "to be" is followed by a past participle (e.g., "has never been seen before") or use a more direct adjective (e.g., "is unprecedented").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is never before" functions as an attempt to describe something unprecedented. However, it is grammatically incorrect, lacking a necessary past participle to complete the verb phrase. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's better to use correct alternatives.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "is never before" attempts to express something unprecedented, it is grammatically incorrect and not recommended for formal use. As Ludwig AI points out, it's more appropriate to use alternatives like "has never been", "is unprecedented", or "has not happened before". These alternatives ensure clarity and credibility in writing and speech. Although the phrase may occasionally appear in informal contexts, avoiding it in favor of grammatically correct options is always advisable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has never happened before

Uses a grammatically correct structure to indicate an event without prior occurrence.

has not occurred previously

Emphasizes the lack of prior instances in a more formal tone.

is unprecedented

Highlights the novelty and lack of historical parallel of the event.

is the first time

Directly states that this is the initial instance of something.

is without precedent

Indicates that the situation lacks any prior examples or parallels.

is a novelty

Focuses on the newness and originality of the subject.

nothing like it has ever existed

Stresses the absolute uniqueness and unprecedented nature of the subject.

is breaking new ground

Suggests innovation and venturing into uncharted territory.

is setting a precedent

Indicates the establishment of a new standard or example for the future.

is uncharted territory

Implies exploration into an unknown or unexplored area.

FAQs

What is the correct way to express something that has not happened before?

Instead of "is never before", use phrases like "has never been", "has not happened before", or "is unprecedented".

Why is the phrase "is never before" considered grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "is never before" lacks a past participle after "is" to complete the verb phrase, making it grammatically incomplete. Correct alternatives include "has never been seen before" or simply "is unprecedented".

In what contexts might I encounter the phrase "is never before", and should I use it?

While you might occasionally encounter "is never before" in informal contexts, it is generally best to avoid it in formal writing or speech. Opt for grammatically sound alternatives to ensure clarity and professionalism.

What are some formal alternatives to "is never before" for academic writing?

In academic writing, use alternatives like "has not been previously documented" or "is unprecedented in the literature" to maintain a high level of formality and precision.