not having been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'not having been' is correct and usable in written English.
This phrase is commonly used to indicate an action that did not take place in the past. For example: "I was surprised to find that the project had not been completed, despite the deadline having passed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

As not having been tiresome.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He seemed proud of not having been asked.

The New Yorker

Not having been tested, he had no occasion to improve.

The Economist

He blames himself for not having been more cautious.

The New York Times

CN I regret not having been born very rich.

The New York Times

(Hard for me to say, not having been there).

The New York Times - Arts

"I regret not having been here – we were in despair.

The Guardian

Sri Lanka's Muslim minority is especially aggrieved at not having been consulted.

The Economist

[2] And I'm sure some commenters will trash me as "elite" for not having been there.

The New York Times

Ms Alem's novel is officially "unavailable" at home, not having been passed by the Saudi censor.

The Economist

ABIGAIL JOHNSON  I confess to not having been in on the birth.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "not having been", ensure that the subsequent verb form correctly reflects the intended past perfect passive meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "not having been" with an active voice construction. For example, instead of "Not having been understood the instructions", use "Not having been given the instructions".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not having been" functions as a gerund phrase, often used to introduce a clause that explains a reason or a condition resulting from the absence of a prior action or state. Ludwig examples showcase its use in describing reasons for regret, explaining causes, or providing context for a situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not having been" is a grammatically correct and versatile construction used to indicate the absence of a past action or state. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage and provides numerous examples across various reputable sources. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts, serving to explain or justify subsequent events. While primarily neutral to formal, it's essential to use the correct passive voice construction to avoid common grammatical errors. Alternatives like "without having been" or "never having been" can offer nuanced variations in meaning. Overall, "not having been" is a valuable tool for expressing complex ideas concisely and accurately.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without having been

Emphasizes the absence or lack of a prior state or action.

never having been

Highlights the complete absence of a past experience.

despite not being

Introduces a contrasting element to the absence of a previous state.

lacking the experience of

Focuses on the lack of familiarity or skill resulting from the absence of the experience.

not yet having been

Implies that an action or state is expected to occur in the future.

in the absence of having been

Formal and emphatic way to express the lack of a prior state.

due to the lack of having been

Explains the reason behind a current situation due to the absence of a past action.

owing to not having been

Similar to 'due to', but often used in more formal contexts.

as a consequence of not having been

Highlights the result of a past action not occurring.

by virtue of not having been

Suggests that a current condition exists specifically because a prior state did not exist.

FAQs

How can I use "not having been" in a sentence?

The phrase "not having been" is used to indicate that something did not happen before a certain point. For example, "The cake was still raw, "not having been baked" long enough".

What's a simpler way to say "not having been"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "without being", "never being", or "not being" to replace "not having been". For example, instead of "The document was rejected, "not having been signed"", you could say "The document was rejected, "not being signed"".

Is it correct to say "never having been" instead of "not having been"?

Yes, "never having been" can often be used interchangeably with "not having been", especially when emphasizing the complete absence of an event or experience. For example, "He had "never having been" abroad before." is similar to "He had "not having been" abroad before."

What is the difference between "not having been" and "having not been"?

"Not having been" is the standard and more common construction. "Having not been" is grammatically correct, but less frequently used and can sound slightly awkward in certain contexts. It's usually better to use ""not having been"".