not pertinent

USAGE SUMMARY

"not pertinent" is correct and usable in written English.
It’s a formal and polite way of saying that something isn’t relevant to a particular discussion or context. For example, "The witness offered information about the robbery, but the judge deemed it not pertinent to the trial, and so it was dismissed."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Anything else is not pertinent".

The New York Times

It's not pertinent to getting working done.

The Guardian - Books

"It's an old story -- almost not pertinent anymore".

The New York Times

"But questions of height, and dress and gender, it's just not pertinent," she notes.

The New York Times

Often it is not pertinent to what the patient came in with.

The New York Times

"We aren't of the view that simply because things happened at 2.14[am] and following that they're not pertinent.

The Guardian

"David is willing to attend something like that meeting as a gesture of coöperation," Mary Sweeney says, "but he believes that questions about motivation are not pertinent".

The New Yorker

A few months ago, through someone else's initiative and for reasons not pertinent here, I wrote to him asking who were his deceased.

The Guardian - Books

In any case, he added, the debate was not pertinent, because hardly any of the sexual abuse charges against priests involved such memories.

The New York Times

"It's our understanding that the status of the subject of the file is not pertinent to the schedule," said Ms. Kleiman in a voice-mail message.

The New York Times

A doctorate can also help bring a higher salary in the private sector, even if the doctorate is not pertinent to the job.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not pertinent" in formal contexts where a polite and professional tone is required to indicate that certain information is not relevant to the discussion.

Common error

Avoid using "not pertinent" in casual conversations. Opt for simpler alternatives like "irrelevant" or "unrelated" to maintain a natural and approachable tone.

Linguistic Context

"Not pertinent" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating that something is not relevant or applicable to a particular situation. Ludwig AI confirms this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

39%

News & Media

37%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not pertinent" is a grammatically sound and widely accepted way to express that something is irrelevant or inapplicable. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct for use in written English. Its usage is particularly common in formal settings such as science, news media, and legal contexts. While alternatives like "irrelevant" or "unrelated" exist, "not pertinent" carries a level of formality that makes it suitable for professional and academic discourse. Remember to consider your audience and the overall tone when deciding whether to use this phrase, opting for simpler alternatives in more casual settings to ensure clarity and approachability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not relevant

A more common alternative to "not pertinent".

irrelevant

A more direct synonym, focusing on lack of relevance.

not germane

A more formal synonym emphasizing lack of relevance to a specific topic.

inapplicable

Highlights the lack of applicability to a specific situation.

immaterial

Suggests the information doesn't significantly affect the matter at hand.

unrelated

Emphasizes the lack of connection or association.

unconnected

Indicates a lack of logical connection.

extraneous

Suggests that something is not essential or integral.

beside the point

An idiomatic expression indicating something is off-topic.

beside the question

Similar to 'beside the point' but more formal.

FAQs

How can I use "not pertinent" in a sentence?

You can use "not pertinent" to indicate that something is not relevant or applicable to the current discussion or situation. For example, "The witness's personal opinions were deemed "not pertinent" to the case."

What is a simpler way to say "not pertinent"?

Alternatives to "not pertinent" include "irrelevant", "unrelated", or "inapplicable". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "not pertinent" formal or informal?

"Not pertinent" is generally considered a formal expression. In more casual settings, words like "irrelevant" or "beside the point" might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "not pertinent" and "not relevant"?

"Not pertinent" and "not relevant" are very similar in meaning and often interchangeable. However, "not pertinent" tends to be slightly more formal and is frequently used in legal or academic contexts.