not at last

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not at last" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be a confusion of phrases, possibly mixing "not at all" or "at last." Example: "I thought I would never finish the project, but I did not at last."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

The Economist Style Guide declares with overweening scrupulosity that the word finally should mean, not "at last", but "for the last time", as though the remark "the shift workers finally ate" ought to suggest that, after this, the benighted shift workers never ate again.

The Guardian - Books

Why were we not at last given a harpsichord?

The Guardian - Music

At least but not at last, the method is able to generate several solutions of identical values of major performance indices but of different structure and other features.

Chemical Engineering Research and Design

We see this when he visits Skyler, not, at last, for selfish reasons, but to hand her the location of Hank's corpse.

Independent

Not anymore -- at least not at last month's Maison & Objets show in Paris or at the New York Gift Fair that followed it.

The New York Times

Marbury was not at last night's game, and maybe the Knicks caught at least a bit of sympathy after the organization's many problems on and off the court.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Even so, I think the results showed that the new Ferrari and the new Bridgestones are definitely not at last year's low.

The New York Times

Mr. Dingell, who was not at last week's hearing, said the McHenry-Warren mess could have been avoided if they had reached a clear agreement beforehand on how long she would testify.

The New York Times

Not at Christmas.

The Washington Post

But not at Christmas, please.

The New Yorker

But not a bit of it – especially not at Christmas.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Given that "not at last" is considered grammatically incorrect, it's best to avoid this phrase in formal writing. Consider using alternatives like "not ultimately" or "not finally" for clearer communication.

Common error

The error often arises from confusing the phrase "at last" with other phrases or adverbs. Ensure you're not intending to use a different construction, such as "not at all" or replacing "at last" with a more appropriate adverb like "finally" or "ultimately".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not at last" functions as a negated adverbial phrase, though its usage is generally considered incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, it appears to be a conflation of other, more standard English phrases. Its intended function is likely to negate a sense of finality or ultimate occurrence.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not at last" is generally regarded as grammatically incorrect and non-standard in English. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's often a confused construction, potentially mixing "not at all" or misusing "at last". Its intended purpose appears to negate a sense of finality, but its incorrect usage leads to ambiguity. It's best to avoid this phrase in formal writing and opt for clearer alternatives like "not ultimately" or "not finally". Although it appears in some news and scientific sources, its low frequency and lack of clarity make it unreliable for effective communication. Therefore, prioritize grammatically sound and easily understandable phrases for better expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not ultimately

Emphasizes that something is not the final outcome or result, replacing "at last" with a more direct term for finality.

not finally

Replaces "at last" with "finally" to indicate that something is not happening in the end or as a conclusion.

not in the end

Focuses on the eventual result or conclusion, similar to "not ultimately".

not eventually

Indicates that something is not going to happen at some point in the future.

never at last

Adds emphasis by using "never" to stress that something will not happen at the final stage.

certainly not at last

Adds a degree of certainty to the negation, stressing that something definitively won't occur finally.

definitely not at last

Similar to "certainly not at last", highlighting the assurance that something won't occur in the end.

not at all in the end

Combines "not at all" with "in the end" to strongly negate a final outcome.

not in conclusion

Replaces "at last" with "in conclusion" to express something will not happen as a conclusive result.

not to conclude

Similar to "not in conclusion", it focuses on negating a conclusive action or statement.

FAQs

What does "not at last" mean?

The phrase "not at last" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. It's often interpreted as a confused combination of "not at all" or an attempt to negate "at last". Consider alternatives like "not ultimately" or "not finally".

How can I correct the usage of "not at last" in a sentence?

To correct "not at last", identify the intended meaning. If you mean "not in the end", use phrases like "not ultimately" or "not finally". For negation, consider "not at all" or rephrasing the sentence.

Is "not at last" ever correct?

In most contexts, "not at last" is not considered standard English. While some instances might appear in specific dialects or non-standard usage, it's best to avoid it in formal or professional writing. Always aim for clarity and grammatical correctness.

What phrases are similar to "not at last" that I can use instead?

Depending on the intended meaning, you can use alternatives such as "not ultimately", "not finally", or "not in the end". Each of these provides a clearer and more grammatically sound way to express negation or finality.