until now unknown

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "until now unknown" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has not been known or recognized up to the present moment. Example: "The discovery of the ancient artifact revealed secrets that were until now unknown to historians."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Following current rational drug design principles, we firstly performed a ligand and structure based virtual screening of more than 130 000 compounds to discover until now unknown class of hTLR4/MD2 modulators that could be used as novel type of immunologic adjuvants.

European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry

The effect of the predation pressure exerted by C. crangon on the bioirrigation and feeding activity of the tubeworm is up until now unknown and it is hypothesised that these activities are affected by the high densities of C. crangon in the reefs.

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

Alkatetraenes, linear hydrocarbons with 4 double bonds were, until now, unknown in Drosophila (though a number of these compounds have been reported for Lepidoptera [49]).

Plosone

However, this form of parental care and cooperation to construct housing where ones offspring and siblings mature was, until now, unknown among lizards, a group containing at least 5000 species [14].

Plosone

The pro- or anti-inflammatory role of IL-34 is until now unknown.

Clinical Science

These multi-ethnic classrooms build an environment with until now unknown effects on the child development.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

The subjects include the generally known (Kate Moss), the semi-known (the art dealer Tony Shafrazi), and unknown (until now) folks advertising themselves in racy selfies or in a type of portrait that might be termed "the assisted selfie".

The New Yorker

However, the role of undercover police in the story remained, until now, largely unknown.

The Guardian

They permit to identify genes involved in pathways which until now were unknown to be involved in a certain phenotype.

Experimental Gerontology

Alvarez herself is well equipped to celebrate Camila, the independent, upright, dignified and until now largely unknown daughter of a famous mother.

The New York Times - Books

The general's whereabouts at the time of the shooting had – until now – been unknown, fuelling theories about his involvement in the assassination.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "until now unknown" to introduce information or discoveries that have only recently come to light. This phrase is particularly effective in scientific and journalistic contexts to emphasize the novelty of a finding.

Common error

Avoid using "until now unknown" when the context already implies that the information is newly discovered. For example, avoid sentences like "The newly discovered species was until now unknown", as "newly discovered" already conveys that the species was not known before.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "until now unknown" functions as an adverbial modifier, adding information about the state or condition of something. As Ludwig AI indicates, it typically modifies a noun or noun phrase, emphasizing that the subject was not known or recognized until the present moment.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

62%

News & Media

34%

Academia

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "until now unknown" functions as an adverbial modifier, emphasizing the recent discovery or recognition of something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and suitability for both formal and neutral contexts, especially in scientific and journalistic writing. While alternative phrases like "previously unrecognized" and "newly discovered" exist, "until now unknown" carries a specific temporal nuance. Common usage patterns show a preference for scientific and news contexts. When using this phrase, be mindful of potential redundancies and ensure it adds meaningful emphasis to the novelty of the information being presented.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previously unrecognized

Replaces the temporal element "until now" with a more direct statement of prior lack of recognition.

hitherto unknown

Uses a more formal and less common synonym for "until now", maintaining the sense of previous obscurity.

previously undiscovered

Focuses on the act of discovery, implying something was not known because it hadn't been found.

newly discovered

Highlights the recent nature of the discovery or understanding.

recently unveiled

Emphasizes the revealing or making public of something that was previously concealed or unknown.

new to our understanding

Shifts the focus to our collective knowledge and the addition of something new.

up to this point, obscure

Uses "obscure" to highlight the lack of clarity or understanding before the present.

never before recognized

Emphasizes that recognition is a key aspect of what was lacking.

unexplored until now

Highlights that something has not been examined or investigated until the present time.

remained a mystery

Highlights the mysterious nature of something prior to its recent discovery or understanding.

FAQs

How can I use "until now unknown" in a sentence?

You can use "until now unknown" to describe something that has recently been discovered or recognized. For example, "The function of this gene was "until now unknown", but recent research has shed light on its role."

What can I say instead of "until now unknown"?

Alternatives include "previously unrecognized", "hitherto unknown", or "newly discovered", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "unknown until now" instead of "until now unknown"?

Both phrases are grammatically acceptable, but "until now unknown" is more common and generally preferred, particularly in formal writing. "Unknown until now" may sound slightly less polished in certain contexts.

What is the difference between "until now unknown" and "previously unknown"?

"Until now unknown" emphasizes the temporal aspect, highlighting that something was not known up to the present moment. "Previously unknown" simply indicates that something was not known at some point in the past, without necessarily implying a recent discovery.