never came up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "never came up" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It can be used as a phrasal verb meaning "to be mentioned or brought up in conversation or discussion." Example: I applied for a promotion, but the topic of my advancement never came up in the meeting.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General Conversation

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"It never came up".

The New York Times

"That actually never came up.

The New York Times

Their turns never came up.

The New York Times - Sports

This never came up.

The Washington Post

The word "Afghanistan" never came up.

The New Yorker

But feng shui never came up.

The New York Times

"It never came up," Ms. Margules said.

The New York Times

It never came up for me personally.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Truth: It just never came up.

Huffington Post

The defense insists that bisexuality never came up.

The New York Times - Sports

(Marriage, she said, "never came up").

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "never came up" to indicate that a topic or issue was not introduced or discussed during a conversation or meeting. It implies a complete absence of mention.

Common error

Avoid using "never came up" when you mean something was actively avoided or suppressed. This phrase suggests a simple lack of mention, not a deliberate omission. For active avoidance, use phrases like "was deliberately avoided" or "was actively suppressed".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "never came up" is as a phrasal verb. It functions as the main verb in a sentence, indicating that a topic or issue was not introduced or discussed. This aligns with Ludwig's examples, showing its usage in describing absent topics.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "never came up" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to indicate that a topic was not mentioned or discussed. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is commonly found in news, formal business settings, and general conversations. While maintaining a neutral register, it serves to inform the listener or reader that a particular subject was absent from the dialogue. When using this phrase, ensure that it aligns with its intended meaning of absence from discussion, rather than active avoidance. By understanding the contexts and common usages, you can confidently incorporate "never came up" into your writing and speech.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was not mentioned

Replaces the phrasal verb with a passive construction.

was not brought up

Uses an alternative phrasal verb with a similar meaning.

did not arise

Employs a more formal verb to express the absence of discussion.

was never discussed

Rephrases the idea using a passive voice construction.

was not considered

Focuses on the lack of consideration rather than direct mention.

was not touched upon

Uses a phrasal verb to indicate a subject was not explored.

remained unaddressed

Highlights the lack of attention given to a particular topic.

was omitted from discussion

Emphasizes the exclusion of a topic from the conversation.

escaped mention

Indicates that something was not mentioned, possibly unintentionally.

was outside the scope of discussion

Indicates that something was not part of the discussion.

FAQs

What does the phrase "never came up" mean?

The phrase "never came up" means that a particular topic or issue was not mentioned or discussed in a conversation, meeting, or other context.

How can I use "never came up" in a sentence?

You can use "never came up" to indicate that a topic was completely absent from a discussion. For example, "The issue of funding "never came up" during the meeting".

What can I say instead of "never came up"?

You can use alternatives like "was not mentioned", "was not brought up", or "was not discussed depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "never came up"?

Yes, "never came up" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrasal verb in English.