not even then

USAGE SUMMARY

"not even then" is a valid phrase that can be used in written English.
It is used when something does not happen even under certain circumstances. For example, "I couldn't finish the report, not even then when I worked all night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

And not even then.

The New York Times

Not even then.

The New York Times - Magazine

And sometimes, not even then.

The New York Times

Sometimes not even then.

The New York Times - Travel

And sometimes not even then.

The New Yorker

NICK PAUMGARTEN: And sometimes not even then.

The New Yorker

This was not, even then, an unpeopled region.

The New York Times - Books

Presidents aren't obvious until they're sitting at the Resolute Desk (and sometimes not even then).

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

He can't even then be an innocent human being, so if he does something innocently wrong, he's measured.

The New York Times - Sports

If you find any problems at this stage (like the door doesn't fit, things aren't even) then you'll need to deal with those first.

WikiHow

Carson Yeung, Birmingham's new president, was not even born then.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not even then" to create emphasis when highlighting a situation where something unexpected persists or fails to occur, despite certain conditions. For example, "Despite all efforts, the problem wasn't solved, not even then."

Common error

Avoid using "not even then" when a simpler negative statement suffices. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound repetitive or overly dramatic. For example, instead of saying "He didn't succeed, not even then", you might simply say "He still didn't succeed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not even then" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate that something did not occur or was not true, even under specific circumstances or at a particular time. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this usage aligns with standard English grammar. The examples provided by Ludwig demonstrate its use in negating expected outcomes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Academia

12%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not even then" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to emphasize the persistence of a situation despite certain conditions. Ludwig AI confirms its correct grammatical standing and frequent usage across various contexts, primarily in News & Media. This phrase effectively communicates a sense of surprise or frustration when an expected outcome does not occur. When writing, it is best to use it to add emphasis, but it's important to avoid redundancy. Alternatives like "even under those circumstances" or "not at that point either" can be used to express similar meaning. Avoid overwriting with this phrase and use it when the emphasis is really needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

even under those circumstances

Replaces "not even then" with a more explicit phrase about specific conditions.

not at that point either

Emphasizes that something is untrue at a specific time, similar to "not even then".

even so, that didn't happen

Highlights that despite what preceded, the expected outcome didn't occur.

under no condition at that time

Strongly emphasizes the lack of possibility at a certain moment.

not in those cases either

Similar in meaning, emphasizing that something does not happen even in particular situations.

even with that, it didn't work

Highlights the ineffectiveness of something, even when a specific condition is met.

still not at that stage

Indicates a lack of progress or achievement even up to a certain point.

even then, nothing changed

Highlights the lack of alteration despite a specific event or situation.

that didn't make a difference either

Expresses that something had no effect, even given the situation.

not even in that situation

Emphasizes that something doesn't occur, despite the surrounding circumstances.

FAQs

How can I use "not even then" in a sentence?

You can use "not even then" to emphasize that something didn't happen even under specific circumstances. For example, "I tried everything, but "not even then" could I fix it".

What can I say instead of "not even then"?

You can use alternatives like "even under those circumstances", "not at that point either", or "even so, that didn't happen" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "not even then" or "not even after"?

Both "not even then" and "not even after" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Not even then" refers to a specific point in time, while "not even after" refers to a period following an event. For example, "I tried to fix it immediately, but "not even then" could I get it to work". Versus "I tried for hours, but "not even after" that amount of time was I successful".

What's the difference between "not even then" and "still not"?

"Not even then" emphasizes a specific circumstance where something was expected to occur but didn't, while "still not" indicates a lack of change or progress over a period. For example, "I applied pressure, but "not even then" would it budge" versus "I kept trying, but it's "still not" working".