not again

USAGE SUMMARY

"not again" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express frustration, disappointment, or exasperation about something that keeps happening. Example sentence: "Ugh, not again! I thought I fixed this computer, but it's crashed again."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

Not again.

The New York Times

Not again by me".

The New Yorker

Once, but not again.

The New York Times - Sports

Oh, no, not again.

The New York Times - Arts

"Not again," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

No, darling, not again.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

And he didn't, again".

The New York Times - Sports

And it won't again.

The New York Times - Magazine

Then were again, then weren't again.

The Guardian

Not ever again.

The New York Times

"Not once again.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not again" to express immediate frustration or disappointment when something undesirable recurs. It's suitable for informal conversations and personal writing where conveying emotion is important.

Common error

Avoid using "not again" in formal or professional writing. It can come across as unprofessional or overly emotional. Instead, opt for more neutral phrasing like "this issue has recurred" or "the problem persists".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not again" primarily functions as an interjection or exclamation expressing dismay or frustration. Ludwig AI indicates its acceptability in English, supported by numerous examples of its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Books

15%

Lifestyle

10%

Less common in

Sports

5%

Wiki

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not again" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express frustration or disappointment about something recurring. As noted by Ludwig AI, while it's acceptable in general English, it's best suited for informal contexts. When writing formally, consider alternatives that maintain a more neutral tone. Remember to use it judiciously to effectively convey your emotions without compromising professionalism.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Oh no, not this again

Adds a more emotional expression of dismay to the original phrase.

Here we go again

Implies a resignation to a recurring, often negative, situation.

Not this time

Focuses on preventing a recurrence, rather than expressing frustration.

It's happening again

States the recurrence as a matter of fact, sometimes with a sense of helplessness.

I can't believe it's happening again

Expresses disbelief and frustration over a repeated event.

Déjà vu

Uses a French term to describe the feeling of having experienced something before.

This is becoming a habit

Points out the increasing frequency of an undesirable event.

We're back to square one

Indicates a return to the initial stage of a problem or situation.

I should have known

Expresses a sense of predictable disappointment.

The same old story

Highlights the lack of novelty in a recurring problem.

FAQs

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

You can use "not again" to express frustration or disappointment when something happens repeatedly. For example, "Not again! The printer is jammed".

What can I say instead of "not again"?

You can use alternatives like "here we go again", "oh no, not this again", or "not this time" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "not again" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "not again" is generally too informal for formal writing. Consider using phrases like "the issue has recurred" or "the problem persists".

What's the difference between "not again" and "never again"?

"Not again" expresses frustration about a current repetition, while "never again" is a firm declaration that something should not happen in the future. For example, "Not again, I spilled my coffee!" versus "Never again will I trust that mechanic!"