not having received

USAGE SUMMARY

"not having received" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which something was not obtained before a certain point in time. For example: "We had not received any new information by the time the meeting ended."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Thereafter," she writes, "I devote myself to not having received that knowledge.

The Guardian - Books

Many low-level soldiers complain about not having received their $100-per-month 100-per-montheks.

The Washington Post

"This condition is a punishment to the parents for not having received university education.

The Guardian

The buyer, not having received the goods and being unable to inspect them, will be reluctant to pay.

Britannica

The next day, Reda, not having received the underwear, lost to the next Egyptian in three quick sets.

The New Yorker

Not having received either a bachelor's degree or a master's degree, Javan earned his PhD in physics at Columbia in 1954, with Townes serving as his thesis advisor.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Earlier that day, she had asked about not having received a paycheck she was expecting after she had stopped working at the agency.

The New York Times

Porter, apparently angry about not having received his clearance, calls Willoughby to ask if she had alleged he had been violent in her interview with the FBI.

The Washington Post

This concerns small companies, which are often exploited by their larger contractors and forced to pay the VAT despite not having received the amounts due.

The Economist

May 13 Mr Ingram is expected to use an armed forces debate in the Commons to clarify his earlier remarks about not having received any adverse reports.

The Guardian

We designed this study to determine which patients have a high risk of supraclavicular node recurrence in N1 breast cancer previously treated with surgery but not having received supraclavicular radiation therapy (SCRT) and to identify which patients needed SCRT.

International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "not having received", ensure the context clearly indicates what was not received and the implications of that lack. For example, "Not having received instructions, the team was unsure how to proceed."

Common error

Avoid using "not having received" when a simpler past perfect tense would be clearer. For example, instead of "Not having received the package, I contacted the sender", consider "Because I had not received the package, I contacted the sender."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not having received" functions as a gerund phrase, often used to introduce a clause that explains a reason or condition. This construction allows for concise expression of a prior state of non-receipt influencing a subsequent action or situation, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

25%

News & Media

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

22%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not having received" is a grammatically sound and commonly used gerund phrase that effectively indicates the absence of something at a specific point in time. Ludwig's analysis, confirmed by Ludwig AI, highlights its utility across diverse contexts, from scientific literature to news reports. While generally neutral to formal, it's crucial to ensure contextual clarity and avoid unnecessary complexity when simpler alternatives suffice. Remember to use it precisely to convey the lack of prior receipt influencing a subsequent action or situation. Consider alternatives such as "without obtaining" or "failing to receive" for variety and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not in receipt of

A more formal way of saying not having received.

failing to receive

Emphasizes the failure in the action of receiving.

without obtaining

Focuses on the absence of obtaining something.

without having acquired

Focuses on the lack of acquisition.

lacking receipt of

Emphasizes the absence of the act of receiving.

never having been provided with

Highlights the act of providing something.

never having gotten

Informal way to express not receiving something in the past.

not been given

Highlights the act of giving rather than receiving.

not having access to

Focuses on the lack of access, implying non-receipt.

missing out on

An informal expression indicating something was not received or experienced.

FAQs

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

You can use "not having received" to indicate that something was not obtained before a specific time or event. For example: "Not having received a reply, he decided to call."

What are some alternatives to "not having received"?

Alternatives include phrases like "without obtaining", "lacking receipt of", or "never having gotten", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it better to use "not receiving" instead of "not having received"?

The choice between "not receiving" and "not having received" depends on the context. "Not receiving" implies a continuous or ongoing lack of receipt, while "not having received" emphasizes that the receipt did not occur before a certain point.

Can "not having received" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "not having received" is appropriate for formal writing. It is often used in legal, academic, and business contexts to clearly indicate a lack of prior receipt. However, more formal alternatives such as "not in receipt of" could be preferred in specific situation.