not having seen

USAGE SUMMARY

"not having seen" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are talking about something that has not happened. For example: "Not having seen the patient since the accident, the doctor was uncertain of his condition."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

After not having seen Fats for 10 yrs.

The New Yorker

He also admitted to not having seen it.

The Guardian - Film

Not having seen a horse in a long time, we were standing there looking at him.

The New Yorker

But I don't regret not having seen Mr. Durang in the role.

The New York Times

"I arrived home not having seen her for a year and a half," he recalls.

The Guardian - Arts

"It's so funny, because I put up such a fuss not having seen it".

The New York Times

"I keep thinking of those monkeys looking at me not having seen people before.

The Guardian

Not having seen your contract, I don't know if that was a factor.

The Guardian

Not having seen a lot of the tournament so far, I was particularly taken by the lack of flopping.

The New York Times

There will be regrets at not having seen the best of the team that had excited everybody.

The Guardian - Sport

As it turned out, you were uninterested in the movie, not having seen "Star Wars" in the first place.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not having seen" to clearly indicate a lack of prior visual experience or exposure, often to provide context for a subsequent action or statement.

Common error

Avoid using "not seeing" when "not having seen" is required to establish a temporal relationship between the lack of visual experience and a subsequent event or state.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not having seen" functions as a participial phrase, modifying a clause by indicating a prior state of lacking visual experience. It introduces a condition or reason based on this absence of sight. Ludwig provides numerous examples showcasing this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not having seen" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to indicate a lack of prior visual experience, often providing context for a subsequent statement or action. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It appears most frequently in News & Media and Scientific sources, suggesting a neutral to formal register. When writing, ensure that the tense and verb form align with the intended temporal relationship, and consider alternatives like "without having viewed" or "never having witnessed" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not having watched

Specifically refers to not having viewed something, usually a film or performance.

before seeing

A simpler way to express the timing of an event relative to seeing something.

without having viewed

Emphasizes the absence of a viewing action; more formal.

never having witnessed

Highlights a complete lack of witnessing something; slightly stronger.

without previous exposure to

Highlights the absence of any prior contact or experience.

lacking prior experience of

Focuses on the absence of experience rather than just sight.

unseen by

A passive construction that emphasizes the state of being unobserved.

having never laid eyes on

An idiomatic expression that stresses the visual aspect.

having no visual contact with

More formal and emphasizes the absence of any visual interaction.

not being familiar with

Indicates a lack of acquaintance; broader than just visual.

FAQs

How do I use "not having seen" in a sentence?

"Not having seen" is used to introduce a reason or condition based on a lack of prior visual experience. For example, "Not having seen the movie, I can't comment on the plot".

What are some alternatives to "not having seen"?

Alternatives include phrases like "without having viewed", "never having witnessed", or "not being familiar with", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "not having seen" or "never seeing"?

"Not having seen" typically implies a reason or context related to a past lack of visual experience. "Never seeing" is more general and refers to the absence of ever seeing something. Choose based on the intended nuance.

What's the difference between "not seeing" and "not having seen"?

"Not seeing" can refer to a present or ongoing lack of sight or understanding. "Not having seen" specifically refers to a past lack of visual experience that influences the present situation.