never until today

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "never until today" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has not happened or been true at any time prior to the present day. Example: "I never until today realized how much I enjoy painting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Never, until today.

The New York Times

He says that his family were in the Beige Book, a holy of holies that he had never until today seen mentioned in the newspaper.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

That is, he said never until 2004.

The New York Times - Sports

"Yet NEVER, until last Friday, have I felt such a desperate sense of loss and loneliness," she wrote days after the assassination.

The New York Times

Very unusually for successful choreographers, Mr. Lightfoot and Ms. León, had never, until last month's premiere of "short time together" for the Dutch National Ballet, created a work outside of NDT.

The New York Times - Arts

He will immediately plunge into a debate over how much power should be given to his office, which has been talked about for years by policy makers and bureaucrats but never, until last month, with much urgency.

The New York Times

He has an ego that is quite enormous, and never changed until today".

The Guardian

Zuckerberg gave her a ruby ring he designed himself, which Chan had never seen until today.

TechCrunch

However, what I never knew until today was how addicts are hustled.

Huffington Post

A mentor told me, "Never smile until Thanksgiving, and never laugh until Christmas!" This is good advice that is very difficult to follow.

Science Magazine

I'd never been until last year.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "never until today" to emphasize a change or realization that is happening precisely on the current day. It adds a sense of immediacy and can highlight the contrast between the past and present.

Common error

Avoid using "never until today" when a simple "not today" or "not yet" would suffice. The phrase is most effective when highlighting a significant shift or realization, not just a lack of occurrence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "never until today" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify the timing of an event or realization. It emphasizes that something did not occur or was not true at any point before the current day. This is supported by Ludwig examples, which highlight a change or new understanding occurring "never until today".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "never until today" is a grammatically sound phrase used to emphasize that something is happening or being realized for the first time on the current day. Although Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness, its usage is relatively rare. It functions as an adverbial phrase, highlighting a contrast between the past and present, and can be found in news articles, scientific papers and personal narratives. For alternative expressions, consider "not until today" or "only today", depending on the desired emphasis and context. Use this phrase when you want to underscore a shift or new understanding that is uniquely tied to the present moment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not until today

Replaces "never" with "not", resulting in a slightly less emphatic statement.

not before today

Focuses on the temporal aspect, emphasizing that the event didn't occur prior to the current day.

for the first time today

Highlights the novelty of the event happening on the current day.

only today

Emphasizes the recency and exclusivity of the event to the current day.

up until today, never

Inverts the structure while retaining the core meaning, emphasizing the duration leading up to the present.

until today, never before

Adds emphasis by stating that something has not happened earlier.

previously never

Emphasizes that nothing happened in the past.

it never happened before today

Changes to a full clause, explicitly stating the absence of prior occurrences.

i've never seen that before now

Shift to I've personal perspective adding a "before now" for a clearer emphasis on the temporal change.

prior to this day, never

Uses more formal language to convey that something didn't happen before today.

FAQs

How can I use "never until today" in a sentence?

Use "never until today" to emphasize a contrast between past and present situations. For example, "I "never understood" the importance of exercise, never until today when I ran a marathon".

What's a more common alternative to "never until today"?

Alternatives like "not until now" or "only today" are more frequently used. Consider the context to choose the most appropriate substitute.

Is it grammatically correct to say "never until today"?

Yes, "never until today" is grammatically correct, but it is a relatively rare construction. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides usage examples.

What's the difference between "never until today" and "not until today"?

"Never until today" has a slightly stronger emphasis on the negation of the past, while "not until today" is a more neutral statement. The choice depends on the desired level of emphasis.