that will never happen

USAGE SUMMARY

"that will never happen" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to emphasize that something is extremely unlikely to occur. Example sentence: I doubt that will ever happen, it's just too good to be true.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's something that will never happen again".

The New York Times - Sports

This is something that will never happen again".

The New York Times

So listen to this: that will never happen again".

The Guardian

The Info button makes sure that will never happen again.

The New York Times

"All the decisions being taken are designed to reassure markets that will never happen".

The New York Times

"What should really happen is the players get the sack for underperforming but that will never happen," he says.

Independent

The oil companies will not help the world to switch to renewable energy – that will never happen.

The Guardian

"When people talk about bringing emissions to zero, they are talking about something that will never happen," Ken Caldeira told me.

The New Yorker

Songs where lyrics riff on things that will never happen, and why, may help you justify.

The Guardian - Music

"I don't believe in avant-garde clothes for a future that will never happen.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

They are creating a hypothetical situation where all services are cut – that will never happen.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, consider alternatives like "it is highly improbable" or "it is out of the question" to maintain a professional tone.

Common error

While "that will never happen" is perfectly acceptable, avoid overusing it in formal reports or academic papers. Opt for more nuanced expressions like "it is highly unlikely" to convey a similar meaning with greater sophistication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that will never happen" functions as a declarative statement expressing a firm conviction that an event is impossible or exceedingly improbable. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Academia

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that will never happen" is a common phrase used to express a strong belief that something is impossible or extremely unlikely. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use, especially in news and media contexts. While acceptable in many situations, it's advisable to use more formal alternatives in academic or professional writing. To soften the tone, alternatives such as "it's highly unlikely" can be considered. This phrase effectively dismisses ideas, predictions, or possibilities as unrealistic, serving as a definitive statement against the likelihood of an event.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's not going to happen

Changes the tense and slightly softens the tone, implying more of a prediction than a definitive statement.

it's out of the question

Indicates that something is completely unacceptable or not worth considering.

it's not a possibility

Emphasizes the lack of chance or likelihood.

it's wishful thinking

Suggests that the idea is based on desires rather than reality.

forget about it

A more informal way to dismiss an idea as unrealistic.

don't hold your breath

Warns against expecting something that is unlikely to occur.

not a snowball's chance in hell

An idiomatic expression emphasizing extreme improbability.

it'll be a cold day in hell

Implies that something is extremely unlikely to happen, using a humorous exaggeration.

when pigs fly

An idiomatic expression signifying an impossible event.

that's a pipe dream

Suggests that something is an unrealistic hope or fantasy.

FAQs

How can I use "that will never happen" in a sentence?

You can use "that will never happen" to express your strong belief that something is impossible. For example, "I doubt "that will never happen", it's just too unrealistic."

What's a more formal way to say "that will never happen"?

In formal settings, consider using phrases like "it is highly improbable", "it is out of the question", or "it is extremely unlikely" as alternatives to "that will never happen".

Which is correct, "that will never happen" or "that's never going to happen"?

Both "that will never happen" and "that's never going to happen" are grammatically correct. The choice depends on the desired tone; the former is slightly more formal.

What can I say instead of "that will never happen" to sound less absolute?

To soften the tone, you could use phrases like "it's highly unlikely", "it's improbable", or "I doubt it will happen" instead of the more definitive "that will never happen".