never been

USAGE SUMMARY

"never been" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is used to indicate that something has never happened or occurred before. Example: I have never been to Europe before, but I am excited to finally visit next month.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I've never been coddled".

The New York Times - Sports

That's never been me".

The New York Times - Sports

Never been a problem.

The New York Times

They've never been sick.

The New Yorker

"I've never been home.

The New York Times

"I've never been defeated.

Independent

I've never been arrested.

The New York Times

I'd never been there".

The New York Times

"He's never been found".

The New York Times

Never been your way.

The New York Times - Sports

He'd never been happier.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "never been" to express a lack of prior experience or a state that has not existed until now. It provides a clear and concise way to convey novelty or absence.

Common error

While grammatically correct, overuse of "never been" can sound informal in certain professional or academic writing. Consider using more sophisticated alternatives like "has not previously occurred" or "is unprecedented" to maintain a formal tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "never been" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating that an action or state has not occurred at any point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms this is a common construction for expressing a lack of prior experience.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "never been" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to express that something has not happened or existed before. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread usage. Its versatility makes it suitable for various contexts, primarily in news, media and scientific writing. While generally neutral in register, writers should consider more formal alternatives in academic or professional settings to maintain a sophisticated tone. Remember to avoid double negatives like "haven't never been". Overall, "never been" is a reliable and easily understood phrase for indicating a lack of prior experience or existence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not happened before

Focuses on the novelty of an event.

has not existed

Highlights the absence of something in the past.

has not occurred

Emphasizes the non-occurrence of an event or situation.

previously unknown

Highlights that something was not known or recognized before.

lacks precedent

Similar to unprecedented, but emphasizes that there's no past example for this situation.

unprecedented

Implies that something is entirely new and without precedent.

without prior experience

Indicates a lack of previous involvement or knowledge.

first time ever

Emphasizes the uniqueness of an event as the initial occurrence.

remains untouched

Focuses on an action never being performed.

has yet to happen

Indicates that something is expected, but is still upcoming.

FAQs

How can I use "never been" in a sentence?

The phrase "never been" is used to express that something has not happened or existed before. For example, "I have "never been" to Japan" means you haven't visited Japan before.

What are some alternatives to "never been"?

Alternatives to "never been" include phrases like "has not occurred", "has not existed", or "not happened before", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "I haven't never been"?

No, "I haven't never been" is a double negative and grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "I have "never been"".

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

"Never been" implies that something has not happened at any point in the past, while "not been" typically refers to a specific period or situation. For example, "I have "never been" to that restaurant" versus "I have not been to that restaurant recently".