is unfortunately not

USAGE SUMMARY

'is unfortunately not' is a grammatically correct phrase in written English.
You can use it whenever you are expressing regret or sorrow about an action or expectation that cannot be fulfilled. Example: I had hoped to attend the event, but, unfortunately, I am not able to make it.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Its outcome is unfortunately not recorded.

Independent

Her case is unfortunately not unique.

The Guardian - Opinion

But the unfairness is, unfortunately, not unexpected.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Don't Get Bitten" is, unfortunately, not very helpful about prevention.

The New York Times - Science

reluctanttorontonian says: This is unfortunately not an unusual case.

The Guardian

Such expertise is unfortunately not available to all application developers.

The Guardian

"Saintly behavior is unfortunately not the norm," Dr. Nowak said.

The New York Times - Science

But this is unfortunately not the case for every child.

The Guardian

"Do we know who that is?" "Unfortunately; not a clue.

The New Yorker

"The problem is unfortunately not improving over time," she said.

The New York Times

"This view is, unfortunately, not substantiated by the facts".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is unfortunately not" to convey disappointment or regret while delivering negative information, softening the impact of the news.

Common error

Avoid using "is unfortunately not" repeatedly within a short passage. This can make your writing sound repetitive and insincere. Instead, vary your phrasing by using synonyms or restructuring sentences to convey the same meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is unfortunately not" functions as a negative assertion or denial, softened by the adverb "unfortunately". It expresses that something is not the case while conveying a sense of regret or disappointment. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "is unfortunately not" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express a negative statement coupled with regret or disappointment. Ludwig confirms its correctness. It's prevalent in news, scientific writing, and business communications, reflecting its versatility across formal and informal contexts. When using the phrase, be mindful of overusing it and consider alternatives like "is regrettably not" or "is sadly not" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is regrettably not

Replaces "unfortunately" with "regrettably", maintaining a formal tone but slightly softening the negative impact.

is, regrettably, not

Adds commas around "regrettably" for emphasis, changing the flow and rhythm of the sentence.

is sadly not

Substitutes "unfortunately" with "sadly", emphasizing the emotional aspect of the disappointment.

is disappointingly not

Substitutes "unfortunately" with "disappointingly", focusing on the frustration caused by the negative outcome.

is alas not

Replaces "unfortunately" with "alas", adding a touch of old-fashioned lament.

is tragically not

Replaces "unfortunately" with "tragically", heightening the severity of the situation.

does not unfortunately

Moves "unfortunately" to a different position in the sentence, slightly altering the emphasis.

is however not

Replaces "unfortunately" with "however", shifting the focus to a contrast or change in direction.

is decidedly not

Substitutes "unfortunately" with "decidedly", reinforcing the negation with a tone of certainty.

is simply not

Removes "unfortunately" and emphasizes the negation with "simply", making it more direct and less apologetic.

FAQs

How can I use "is unfortunately not" in a sentence?

The phrase "is unfortunately not" is used to express regret when something is not the case. For example, "The zero-carbon sneaker "is unfortunately not" available for sale."

What phrases are similar to "is unfortunately not"?

Alternatives to "is unfortunately not" include "is regrettably not", "is sadly not", or "is disappointingly not", depending on the context and the desired tone.

Is it grammatically correct to use "is unfortunately not"?

Yes, the phrase "is unfortunately not" is grammatically correct and widely used in both formal and informal writing to express a negative situation with a sense of regret.

What's the difference between "is unfortunately not" and "is not unfortunately"?

The phrase "is unfortunately not" is more common and natural-sounding than "is not unfortunately". Placing "unfortunately" before "not" emphasizes the speaker's disappointment or regret about the negative statement.