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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
received not received
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "received not received" is not correct and usable in written English.
It appears to be a contradiction and lacks clarity in meaning, making it difficult to use effectively in communication. Example: "The package was marked as received not received, causing confusion about its delivery status."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Science
News & Media
Formal & Business
Alternative expressions(3)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
60 human-written examples
This study used nationally representative nursing home data to compare black and white nursing home residents with respect to receiving, not receiving, or having an unknown PPV vaccination status, and to examine the interaction of race with various facility characteristics.
"Never has a Republican president's nominee not received a hearing, not received a vote.
News & Media
The company later said it had booked millions in revenue it had not received and would not receive unless it won a favorable ruling in a court case.
News & Media
"Zelle is not responsible for goods or services that are not received or are received but do not meet expectations".
News & Media
We used Cox proportional hazards models to compute mortality rate ratios (MRR) of children who had received or not received OPV at birth.
Science
The nonresponse analysis revealed that very few differences were found between patients whose records were received versus not received.
Science
Additionally, a binary categorization (vaccination received vs. not received) was used, which may lead to a loss of information.
Science
Patients with a fever ⩾38°C who had not received blood products received antibiotic therapy.
Science
We compared the median CXCR2 expression levels in the two subgroups of patients having received, or not received, a neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen.
Science
Before central randomization via fax patients were stratified according to liver function (Child classification) and treatment before study entry (received or not received).
Science
As intended in our study protocol, we stratified patients prior to randomisation according to liver function (Child classification) and previous treatment for HCC (received or not received).
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Avoid using the phrase "received not received" due to its contradictory nature. Instead, opt for clearer alternatives like "received or not received" to explicitly state both possibilities.
Common error
Do not combine opposing actions or states without a clear connector or explanation. Using "received not received" creates confusion. Ensure clarity by using "or" to separate possibilities, such as in the corrected version "received or not received".
Source & Trust
79%
Authority and reliability
1.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "received not received" attempts to express a binary state of either having received something or not. However, it's grammatically incorrect and contradictory as highlighted by Ludwig. Clearer alternatives include "received or not received".
Frequent in
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Formal & Business
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Less common in
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Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The phrase "received not received" is grammatically incorrect and contradictory. As Ludwig AI points out, it's not usable in written English. Instead, use clearer alternatives such as "received or not received" to explicitly state both possibilities. Given its lack of correct usage and contradictory nature, it's best to avoid this phrase in any context. Clarity is key, and phrases like "acknowledged or unacknowledged" can offer a more formal alternative depending on the context.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
received or not received
Adds clarity by explicitly stating both possibilities: receipt and non-receipt.
acknowledged or unacknowledged
Focuses on acknowledgement as a form of receipt, offering a formal alternative.
confirmed or unconfirmed
Highlights confirmation as evidence of receipt, providing a verifiable aspect.
delivered or undelivered
Shifts focus to the delivery status, implying receipt or lack thereof.
obtained or not obtained
Emphasizes the act of obtaining something, relevant when receipt is the goal.
accepted or rejected
Considers acceptance as a form of receipt, especially for abstract items like proposals.
on hand or not on hand
Specifies physical possession as a condition of receipt, useful in inventory contexts.
in possession or not in possession
Similar to "on hand", but emphasizes legal or rightful ownership.
got or did not get
Uses a more informal and direct way to express receipt or non-receipt.
present or absent
Indicates whether something that should have been received is actually there or missing.
FAQs
What's a clearer way to express "received not received"?
A more precise way to phrase this is "received or not received", which avoids the contradiction and clearly presents both possibilities.
When is it appropriate to use "received or not received"?
Use "received or not received" when you need to explicitly acknowledge both outcomes as possibilities, such as in a survey question or a status report.
What are some formal alternatives to "received not received"?
Formal alternatives include "acknowledged or unacknowledged" or "confirmed or unconfirmed", which are suitable for professional or academic contexts.
How can I avoid ambiguity when discussing whether something was received?
To avoid ambiguity, always specify the criteria for receipt and clearly state whether those criteria were met. Instead of "received not received", consider "delivered or undelivered" or "in possession or not in possession" depending on what you want to specify.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
79%
Authority and reliability
1.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested