not then

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not then" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is not applicable or relevant at a specific time or moment. Example: "I thought about going to the party, but I decided it was not then the right time for me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Not then.

The New York Times

Not then, not now.

The New York Times

Not then, anyway.

The New York Times - Books

He didn't, not then.

The New Yorker

Not then or since.

The New Yorker

Not then and not now.

The New Yorker

"If not, then we can't.

The New York Times

Make it than, not then.

The New York Times

"No, not then," he said.

The New Yorker

"Than," not "then," of course.

The New York Times

"If not, then it won't".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not then" to clearly indicate that something was not the case at a specific point in time, ensuring your sentence avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "then" when you mean "than". "Then" refers to time, while "than" is used for comparisons. For example, say "It is more important than that", not "It is more important then that".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not then" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify when something did not occur or was not the case. Ludwig examples show it negating a previous statement about a specific time.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not then" is a grammatically sound and relatively common construction used to indicate that something was not the case at a particular point in time. As Ludwig AI indicates, it serves as a negative adverbial phrase, contributing to a clear temporal contrast. While versatile enough for diverse settings, it's particularly frequent in news and media contexts. To ensure clarity, be mindful of avoiding confusion with the homophone "than". Alternatives like "not at that time" can provide additional precision. The provided examples illustrate the phrase's effective usage in conveying specific temporal negations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not at that time

Replaces "then" with a more explicit time reference.

not at that moment

Substitutes "then" with "that moment" for emphasis on a specific point in time.

not in those days

Indicates something didn't happen during a specific period in the past.

not in that era

Refers to a broader historical period where something was absent.

not previously

Focuses on the lack of prior occurrence.

not before that

Specifies that something didn't happen prior to a certain point.

not until later

Emphasizes that something happened, but at a later time.

not in the past

Highlights the absence of something in past times.

not formerly

Implies something is different now than it was before.

not in that instance

Indicates something did not occur in a particular case or situation.

FAQs

How do I use "not then" in a sentence?

Use "not then" to specify that something was not true or did not happen at a particular time. For example, "I wasn't ready to leave yet, "not then", anyway".

What's a simple way to rephrase "not then"?

You can replace "not then" with phrases like "not at that time" or "not at that moment" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "not then" grammatically correct?

Yes, "not then" is grammatically correct and commonly used in various contexts to indicate something did not occur or was not the case at a particular time.

What is the difference between "not then" and "not now"?

"Not then" refers to a time in the past when something was not true, while "not now" refers to the present. For example, "It wasn't a problem "not then", but it is "not now"".