never been understood

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "never been understood" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that something has consistently failed to be comprehended or grasped by others. Example: "Despite numerous explanations, the concept has never been understood by the majority of the audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

What has never been understood by critics of the peace process was that it was always about something more than just Israeli-Palestinian peace.

The New York Times

The piece, the program told us, was inspired by "the Nazca Lines in Peru whose mysterious origins and meaning have never been understood".

The New York Times - Arts

The crux of the constitutional complaint against the mandate is that Congress's ability to regulate commerce has never been understood to give it the power to force Americans to buy insurance, or anything else.

The New York Times

"It's a phenomenon we see again and again in different bacteria and it has never been understood".

Science Magazine

It has been reported that nanoparticles (NPs) prepared by hydrophobically-modified polymers could accumulate passively in the tumor tissue; however, their cellular uptake mechanism and intercellular trafficking pathway have never been understood.

Journal of Controlled Release

While it's clear to many that men are from Mars and women are from Venus, the difficulties in communication between the sexes have never been understood.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

How they went from troublemakers to terrorism suspects may never be understood.

The New York Times

The dynamics of that journey will never be understood except by those who have taken it.

The New York Times

It's simply a collection of notions that may never be understood.

The New York Times - Books

Pundits made inevitable comparisons with Mr Bernanke's predecessor, Alan Greenspan, who made a point of never being understood.

The Economist

"Even with the best of animations or virtual reality software, the respect for chemical hazards will never be understood.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "never been understood", ensure the subject is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For instance, instead of saying 'It has never been understood', specify 'The cellular uptake mechanism has never been understood'.

Common error

Avoid using "never been understood" in situations where 'poorly understood' or 'not fully explored' would be more appropriate. Reserve it for cases where there's a genuine, long-standing lack of comprehension, and not simply a need for further research.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "never been understood" functions as a descriptor, indicating that a particular subject has consistently lacked comprehension. It employs a passive construction, emphasizing the absence of understanding rather than who failed to understand. Ludwig AI indicates that it's a usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

43%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "never been understood" is a descriptor signifying a persistent lack of comprehension. Grammatically sound and frequently used in neutral to formal contexts, particularly in news and scientific domains, the phrase effectively highlights the enigmatic nature of a subject. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. Although not as common as other similar expressions, it adds emphasis to the enduring mystery surrounding a particular topic. Ludwig examples showed its effective use in conveying that concepts are difficult to grasp.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

never fully grasped

Indicates that something has not been completely comprehended.

remains a mystery

Highlights the enigmatic nature of something that defies explanation.

not yet comprehended

Implies that understanding may be achieved in the future.

poorly understood

Suggests a lack of sufficient understanding.

largely unknown

Indicates that information or knowledge is lacking.

inadequately appreciated

Focuses on the insufficient recognition or understanding of something's value.

escapes understanding

Emphasizes the difficulty in grasping the concept.

defies explanation

Highlights the impossibility of providing a rational explanation.

has eluded comprehension

Suggests a long-standing failure to understand something.

not clearly perceived

Focuses on the lack of a distinct or accurate understanding.

FAQs

What does "never been understood" mean?

The phrase "never been understood" means that something has consistently lacked comprehension or has not been successfully grasped by anyone.

What can I say instead of "never been understood"?

You can use alternatives like "not yet comprehended", "remains a mystery", or "poorly understood" depending on the context.

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

For example, you could say: "The reasons for his sudden departure have "never been understood"."

Is it correct to say "has never been understood"?

Yes, "has never been understood" is grammatically correct and commonly used to indicate a lack of understanding that persists over time.