never heard before

USAGE SUMMARY

"never heard before" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used when referring to an idea, concept, or subject that has not previously been mentioned or discussed. For example, "We discussed many topics during our meeting, but one that I had never heard before was that of 'zero-gravity cooking'."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Words I had never heard before had a significance for him, and a private satisfaction.

The New Yorker

"He was screaming obscenities, some words I never heard before," Miss Jernigan said.

The New York Times

Like a song I never heard before.

The New Yorker

Stories I had never heard before.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It was a word he had never heard before.

The New Yorker

You hear parts of the score you've never heard before.

Independent

"These documents were something I'd never heard before," Perez said.

The New York Times

"There was stuff in there I never heard before".

The New York Times - Sports

He said he heard perspectives he'd never heard before.

The Guardian

"A noise I've never heard before," he said.

The Guardian - Sport

Those were words he had never heard before.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "never heard before" to express genuine surprise or unfamiliarity with a concept, sound, or piece of information. This adds authenticity to your writing and helps convey your personal experience to the reader.

Common error

Avoid overusing "never heard before" to describe something only slightly unusual. Reserve it for truly novel or surprising experiences to maintain its impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "never heard before" functions as an adjective phrase, typically modifying a noun to indicate that something is novel or unfamiliar to the speaker. Ludwig AI confirms its correct grammatical usage, supported by numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Academia

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "never heard before" is a common and grammatically sound adjective phrase used to express unfamiliarity with something. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is generally used correctly and effectively in various contexts. Predominantly found in news and media sources, it serves to emphasize the novelty or uniqueness of an experience, sound, or idea. While versatile, it's important to reserve it for truly novel encounters to avoid diluting its impact. Consider alternatives like "previously unknown" or "unheard-of until now" for varied expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previously unknown

Focuses on the state of being unknown rather than the act of hearing.

unheard-of until now

Emphasizes the novelty and recent emergence of something.

something I wasn't familiar with

Expresses a lack of prior knowledge.

hadn't encountered before

Focuses on the lack of prior interaction or experience.

new to my ears

A more figurative way of expressing unfamiliarity.

foreign to my knowledge

Highlights that something is outside one's sphere of knowledge.

a first for me

Highlights the fact that it's a completely new experience.

not within my experience

Broadens the scope to overall experience rather than just auditory input.

a novel concept to me

Highlights the newness of an idea or concept.

unfamiliar territory

A more idiomatic way of describing something as new and unknown.

FAQs

How can I use "never heard before" in a sentence?

You can use "never heard before" to describe something completely new or unknown to you. For example, "The musician played a melody I had "never heard before"."

What's a more formal way to say "never heard before"?

In formal contexts, you might use phrases like "previously unknown", "unprecedented", or "something with which I was not previously acquainted" instead of "never heard before".

Which is correct: "never heard before" or "never before heard"?

"Never heard before" is the more common and natural phrasing. "Never before heard" is grammatically correct but less frequently used.

What can I say instead of "never heard before" to emphasize surprise?

To emphasize surprise, consider alternatives such as "utterly new to me", "completely unexpected", or "unheard-of until now".