not acquired

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not acquired" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has not been obtained or achieved. Example: "The skills necessary for the job were not acquired during my previous employment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Such ease was not acquired without effort.

The New Yorker

The overwhelming majority had not acquired citizenship.

The New York Times - Magazine

But Connor's possession was not acquired in that way.

Cornell University

Lofton was not acquired to be a spare part.

The New York Times - Sports

The site has an inholding that was not acquired or redeveloped.

Yale University

Textbooks and juvenile literature is not acquired unless requested by faculty for teaching purposes.

Columbia University

This finding implies that infants have not acquired intonation based on a "magnitude criterion".

Journal of Phonetics

Why had her mother not acquired a chair especially designed for paraplegic children, she wondered.

The New York Times

Had the Knicks not acquired Jackson last week, they might have shown interest in Strickland.

The New York Times - Sports

"After this kind of D.I.Y. hyper-success, it still was not acquired by a museum.

The New Yorker

Sokurov's understanding of political power was not acquired solely through research.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "not acquired", ensure the context clearly indicates what was expected or intended to be obtained, making the lack of acquisition meaningful to the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "not acquired" when a simpler term like "not purchased" or "not received" is more direct and appropriate for the situation, as overusing "acquired" can sound unnecessarily formal or verbose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not acquired" functions as a negative predicate within a sentence. It typically modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating that something has not been obtained, gained, or developed. Ludwig's examples confirm this usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

34%

Academia

18%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not acquired" is a versatile and frequently used expression that effectively communicates a lack of possession or attainment. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically sound and appears across various credible sources like The New York Times, Nature, and Forbes. While alternatives like "not obtained" or "not gained" exist, "not acquired" maintains a formal tone suitable for both professional and general communication. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly defines what was expected to be acquired to provide a meaningful understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not obtained

Replaces "acquired" with a direct synonym, maintaining a similar level of formality and meaning.

not gained

Uses another synonym for "acquired", emphasizing the lack of benefit or advantage received.

not attained

Suggests a failure to reach a specific level or goal.

not secured

Emphasizes the lack of certainty or protection achieved.

not achieved

Highlights the absence of accomplishment or success.

not procured

Implies that the item was not necessarily 'gotten' via special effort.

not come by

Presents a more informal alternative, suggesting that something was not easily found or obtained.

failed to acquire

Focuses on the action of trying to acquire and not succeeding.

did not get

An informal phrase indicating the lack of receipt or attainment.

remained unacquired

Highlights the continuing state of not being acquired, often implying a missed opportunity or expectation.

FAQs

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

You can use "not acquired" to indicate that something was not obtained or achieved, such as, "The necessary skills were "not acquired" during the training program."

What are some alternatives to saying "not acquired"?

Alternatives to "not acquired" include "not obtained", "not gained", or "not attained", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more formal to say "not acquired" than "did not get"?

Yes, "not acquired" is generally more formal than "did not get". In casual contexts, "did not get" may be more appropriate, while "not acquired" is suited for formal or professional writing.

When should I use "not acquired" instead of "not purchased"?

Use "not acquired" when referring to something beyond a simple purchase, such as a skill, trait, or quality. "Not purchased" is specifically for items you could have bought. For example, "The company has "not acquired" the necessary expertise", rather than "The company has not purchased the expertise".