not a penny

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not a penny" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to emphasize that no money is being given or spent, often in a negative context. Example: "I will not lend you my car unless you pay me not a penny less than its worth."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Not a penny more.

The New York Times

"Not a penny," she said.

The New York Times

Not a penny".

The New York Times

Not a penny more, not a penny less.

The Guardian

Not a penny, says Lilja.

The Guardian

Not a penny is for us.

The Guardian - Opinion

"They said not a penny more but that wasn't the same as not a penny less.

The Guardian

Those will stay in place, "not a penny more, not a penny less".

The Guardian

He left Edgar A. Poe not a penny.

The New Yorker

Not a penny of this tax goes to environmental issues.

Independent

"Not a penny was legally mismanaged," she said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not a penny" to emphatically state that no amount of money, even a small one, is involved or will be given. This adds a strong negative connotation to the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "not a penny" when you mean to convey a general lack of resources, rather than specifically emphasizing the absence of even minimal monetary value. Instead, use broader phrases like "no funds" or "no resources available" if the context is not specifically about money.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not a penny" functions as an emphatic denial or rejection of any monetary value. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is grammatically sound and functions to reinforce a negative statement, signifying zero financial input or cost.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Science

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not a penny" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression to emphatically deny any financial involvement. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and utility across various contexts, most prominently in news and media. Its purpose is to underscore the absence of even minimal monetary value, and while generally neutral, its emphatic nature makes it suitable for informal communication. Consider alternatives like "not a cent" or "absolutely nothing" to achieve similar emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not a cent

Replaces "penny" with "cent", another small unit of currency, maintaining the same emphatic meaning.

not a dime

Substitutes "penny" with "dime", implying a slightly larger but still insignificant amount of money.

not a red cent

Adds the adjective "red" to "cent" for emphasis, still denoting a very small amount of money.

not one cent

Uses "one cent" instead of "a cent", giving a more specific emphasis.

absolutely nothing

Conveys the idea of receiving no money at all, broadening the scope beyond just pennies.

not a single coin

Emphasizes the absence of any coin, not just a penny.

free of charge

Shifts the focus to the absence of cost rather than the absence of money received.

at no cost

Similar to "free of charge", emphasizing that there is no financial obligation.

without payment

Highlights the lack of payment, changing the perspective to the act of paying.

not a brass farthing

An old-fashioned idiom conveying the same meaning, using a British term for a very small amount of money.

FAQs

How can I use "not a penny" in a sentence?

You can use "not a penny" to emphasize that no money is being given or spent, even a small amount. For example, "I won't pay "not a penny" more than it's worth."

What phrases are similar to "not a penny"?

Similar phrases include "not a cent", "not a dime", or "absolutely nothing", all of which emphasize the lack of money involved.

Is it grammatically correct to say "not a penny"?

Yes, the phrase "not a penny" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English to emphasize the absence of even a small amount of money.

What is the difference between "not a penny" and "no money"?

"Not a penny" is an emphatic way of saying that even the smallest amount of money is not involved, whereas "no money" is a more general statement indicating a lack of funds.