never been approached

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "never been approached" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate that someone has not been contacted or solicited for something. Example: "She has never been approached for a job offer." Alternative expressions include "never been contacted" and "never been solicited."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

I'd never been approached like this before either.

The Guardian - Books

"We've never been approached with anything like this before".

The New York Times - Tech

I've never been approached by any of our people.

The New Yorker

"To my understanding, we have never been approached by ICE about that," she said.

The New York Times

"I have never been approached by, or spoken with anyone at Asio.

The Guardian

"I have never been approached by anyone" interested in gambling, he asserted.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

There were those who believed that Woods's 2000 season would never be approached again.

The New York Times - Sports

Despite that, we never were approached by another company for a domestic distribution deal again".

The New York Times

Coyle has taken a risk; some managers believe you must move when your star is on the rise, he may never be approached by Celtic again.

The Guardian - Sport

For me, and people like me, choosing the books to bring on such journeys is a task that can never be approached lightly.

Independent

Cy Young, whose 511 victories will never be approached, would have left the Red Sox to return to the Indians a century ago even if he didn't know the pitcher's award in each league would be named for him.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "never been approached", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what was expected to do the approaching. This adds clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "never been approached" when an active construction is more appropriate. For example, instead of "The company has never been approached by investors", consider "Investors have never approached the company" if the focus is on the investors' action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "never been approached" functions as a negative passive construction. It indicates that the subject of the sentence has not been the recipient of an action, specifically the act of being approached. As evidenced by Ludwig, this phrase is widely used to convey a lack of solicitation or contact.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Sport

14%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Never been approached" is a versatile phrase used to indicate a lack of initiative or contact from an external source. Grammatically sound and commonly employed, as validated by Ludwig, it conveys a passive state of non-engagement. Analysis reveals a neutral register, suitable for diverse contexts, with primary usage in news and media. When using the phrase, be precise about the actor expected to approach. Considering alternatives like "not been contacted" can add nuance. In summary, understanding the grammatical function and potential interpretations of "never been approached" ensures effective and precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not been contacted

Emphasizes the absence of any form of communication.

not been solicited

Highlights the lack of requests or offers made.

not been asked

Focuses on the absence of a direct question or request.

not been made an offer

Highlights the lack of a formal proposal or deal.

not received an invitation

Specifically refers to the lack of an invitation for an event or opportunity.

not been propositioned

Implies the absence of a suggestion or plan presented for consideration.

not been sounded out

Indicates the absence of preliminary inquiries or explorations of interest.

not been tendered

Used in a formal context to describe an offer not being made available.

not had overtures made

Expresses the absence of attempts to initiate a relationship or negotiation.

remained unpursued

Indicates that no effort has been made to follow up or engage further.

FAQs

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

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "not been contacted" or "not been solicited". These alternatives emphasize the lack of formal communication or requests.

What does it mean when someone says they have "never been approached"?

It means that they have not been contacted, asked, or invited for something. The specific meaning depends on the context, but it generally indicates a lack of initiation from another party.

Is there a difference between "never been approached" and "not been approached"?

While both phrases convey a similar meaning, "never been approached" implies that this has been the case at all times in the past, whereas "not been approached" simply indicates the current state. The former has a stronger emphasis on the lack of any prior contact.

What are some situations where someone might say they have "never been approached"?

This phrase could be used in various contexts, such as job applications (e.g., "I have never been approached for a job offer"), business deals (e.g., "We have never been approached by a potential buyer"), or personal relationships (e.g., "I have never been approached romantically by that person").