never

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "never" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express something that will not happen at any time in the future. For example: "I will never forget our first meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But never mind that.

The New York Times - Arts

I never forgot that.

The New York Times - Magazine

Never have been.

The New York Times

They'll never know what it means to have a private moment to themselves an unrecorded, unanalysed thought.

The Guardian

But it will never happen".

The New York Times

He never did.

The New York Times

I've never done anything like this before and, in hindsight, I have realised it was a silly thing to do".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Whatever our politics there can never be justification, surely only regret".

The Guardian

"I've worked multiple disasters, but I've never worked an ice storm with a forecast like this.

The Guardian

"I would never do that.

The New York Times - Sports

You will never be forgotten and I will miss you every day.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "never" to express a strong negation or impossibility. Place it before the main verb, but after auxiliary verbs like "have", "will", or "be". For example, "I have never seen such a thing."

Common error

Avoid placing "never" at the end of a question. Instead, structure the question so that "never" precedes the main verb. Incorrect: "Have you seen it, never?" Correct: "Have you never seen it?"

Linguistic Context

The word "never" functions primarily as an adverb of frequency, indicating that an event or action does not occur at any time. Ludwig confirms the grammatical correctness and usability of "never" in various contexts. Examples show its use to negate actions or express strong denials.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "never" is a versatile adverb used to express a strong negation or the absence of an event, as confirmed by Ludwig. It functions as an adverb of frequency and is suitable for neutral registers, making it appropriate for various communication styles. As evidenced by Ludwig, the word appears most frequently in news and media sources, which further supports its widespread use and understanding. Remember to place "never" correctly in sentences and avoid double negatives to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not ever

A more emphatic and slightly informal way to express "never", reinforcing the absence of an event.

at no time

Replaces "never" with a more formal expression emphasizing the absence of an event within any timeframe.

under no circumstances

Highlights that an action or event is forbidden or impossible, regardless of the situation.

on no occasion

Similar to "at no time", this alternative underscores that an event did not and will not occur on any specific instance.

by no means

Indicates that something is absolutely not the case or will not happen under any circumstances.

in no way

Shifts the focus to the impossibility of an action or event, rather than its occurrence over time.

absolutely not

Conveys a firm refusal or denial, similar to "never" in certain contexts of prohibition.

not at all

Indicates a complete lack or absence, offering a similar sense of negation to "never".

no way

An informal and emphatic way to say that something is not possible or will not happen.

ne'er

An archaic or poetic term for "never", adding a touch of literary style.

FAQs

How can I use "never" in a sentence?

Use "never" to indicate that something has not happened or will not happen at any time. For instance, "I will "never forget" this moment" or "She has "never been" to Paris".

What are some alternatives to saying "never"?

Instead of "never", you can use phrases like "at no time", "on no occasion", or "in no way" to convey a similar meaning, depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I didn't never do that"?

No, "I didn't never do that" is grammatically incorrect because it's a double negative. The correct way to say it is "I "never did that"" or "I didn't do that".

What's the difference between "never" and "not ever"?

"Never" and "not ever" both express negation, but "never" is more common and slightly more formal. "Not ever" emphasizes the negation and can sound more emphatic, but might be perceived as slightly less sophisticated in formal writing.