it has never been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it has never been" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something has not occurred at any point in the past up to the present moment. Example: "It has never been easy to find a solution to this problem."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It has never been amended.

The Economist

(It has never been revived).

The New Yorker

It has never been clubbable.

The New York Times - Books

It has never been rebroadcast.

Independent

"It has never been as bad".

The New York Times

But it has never been implemented.

The Economist

It has never been tested in court.

The New Yorker

"It has never been like this".

The New York Times - Sports

"It has never been worn," she added.

The New York Times

One, it has never been solved.

The New Yorker

It has never been in the game.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it has never been" to clearly state that something has not occurred up to the present time, emphasizing the lack of precedent. For a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "it has not previously occurred."

Common error

Avoid using "it has never been" when referring to future events. This phrase is specifically for past occurrences. For future scenarios, use "it will never be" or "it is unlikely to be."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it has never been" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, typically to express that something has not happened at any time in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it has never been" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something has not occurred at any point in the past. Ludwig AI validates this assessment, showcasing its frequent usage across diverse contexts, predominantly in news and media. While versatile, remember to adjust the tone using more formal alternatives like "it has not previously occurred" for scholarly or business writing. Avoiding its misuse for future events is crucial, as is replacing it with "it will never be" or equivalent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it has not ever been

Replaces "never" with "not ever" for emphasis, but maintains the same meaning.

it has not previously occurred

Replaces "never been" with a more formal and descriptive phrase.

it has not been at any time

More formal and emphatic way of saying something has not happened.

it is yet to happen

Suggests that something may still occur in the future, but hasn't so far.

it is unprecedented

Focuses on the lack of prior occurrence, highlighting its uniqueness.

there is no precedent for it

Emphasizes the absence of a prior example or instance.

there's no prior instance

Highlights the absence of a previous example or case.

it's without parallel

Highlights the lack of a comparable situation or event.

it remains unseen

Focuses on the lack of visibility or awareness of something.

it is still pending

Implies something has not happened yet, and might never happen.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "it has never been" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases such as "it has not previously occurred" or "there is no precedent for it."

What is the difference between "it has never been" and "it will never be"?

"It has never been" refers to something that hasn't happened up to now, while "it will never be" indicates something that is not expected to happen in the future.

Can "it has never been" be used to describe future events?

No, "it has never been" is used exclusively for past events. For future events, use "it will never be" or similar constructions.

What are some common synonyms for "it has never been"?

Synonyms include "it has not ever been", "it is unprecedented", and "there is no precedent for it" depending on the specific context.