there haven't been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "there haven't been" is correct and is commonly used in written English.
You can use it to convey the idea that something has not occurred or happened. For example, "There haven't been any problems so far."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"We're just lucky there haven't been other fatalities".

The New York Times

BAGHDAD — There haven't been any Saddam sightings, yet.

The New York Times

That is not to say there haven't been mistakes.

The Guardian - Music

I'm surprised there haven't been more attacks like this".

The New York Times

"It's not correct to say there haven't been experiments".

The Guardian

"The vast majority of people out there haven't been reached.

The New York Times

Not to say there haven't been valiant stabs.

BBC

"There haven't been 13, there haven't been 14, there haven't been three," she said.

Vice

I'm surprised there haven't been many more fatalities.

Huffington Post

There haven't been for a while.

The New Yorker

Not that there haven't been problems.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "there haven't been", ensure that the noun following "been" is plural or a non-countable noun. For example, "There haven't been any significant changes".

Common error

Avoid using "there haven't been" with singular nouns. The correct form for singular nouns is "there hasn't been". For instance, say "There hasn't been a problem" instead of "There haven't been a problem".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there haven't been" serves as an existential construction expressing negation. It indicates the absence or scarcity of something. Ludwig's AI affirms its correct usage, and the examples show it modifying plural nouns or uncountable nouns, such as "there haven't been any complaints".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "there haven't been" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate the absence or scarcity of something, primarily in plural or uncountable contexts. According to Ludwig, it follows standard grammar rules. It is frequently found in news and media sources. When using this phrase, it's essential to ensure subject-verb agreement and avoid using it with singular nouns. Alternative phrases include "there have been few" or "there is a lack of", depending on the context. Remember to use it when conveying a negative existential statement about multiple entities, as Ludwig AI confirms.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there have not been

Formal alternative using "have not" instead of the contraction "haven't".

there weren't

Uses "weren't" (were not) suggesting a past absence of something in a plural context.

there was not

Uses a more separated form of "was not" indicating the absence of something singular

there's been a lack of

Emphasizes the deficiency or absence of something using the phrase "a lack of".

there have been few

Indicates that something exists, but only in small quantities.

there's a scarcity of

Highlights the limited availability or shortage of something.

instances have been rare

Focuses on the infrequency of specific occurrences or events.

occasions were limited

Emphasizes the restricted number of times something has happened.

few examples exist

Implies that there is a limited number of documented cases or illustrations.

not many have occurred

Indicates that the frequency of certain events has been low.

FAQs

How can I use "there haven't been" in a sentence?

Use "there haven't been" to indicate the absence or lack of something, especially when referring to multiple items or uncountable nouns. For example, "There haven't been any complaints" or "There haven't been many changes".

What's the difference between "there hasn't been" and "there haven't been"?

"There hasn't been" is used with singular or uncountable nouns, while "there haven't been" is used with plural nouns. For example, "There hasn't been a problem" (singular) versus "There haven't been any problems" (plural).

Can I use "there haven't been" in formal writing?

Yes, "there haven't been" is acceptable in both formal and informal writing. However, in very formal contexts, you might consider using the uncontracted form "there have not been".

What are some alternatives to "there haven't been"?

Alternatives include phrases like "there have been few", "there is a lack of", or "not many have occurred" depending on the specific context.