we found none

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "we found none" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this expression when you are indicating that something has been searched for and not been found. For example: We searched every corner of the room, but we found none of the missing items.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

"We found none".

The New York Times

We found none, and the Nepali student accompanying us translated that the boy had not seen them for a while.

The New York Times

This, we learned, was called Pele's hair, and although we searched for the smooth, tear-shaped lava stones called Pele's tears, we found none.

The New York Times - Travel

During an on-the-air conversation with Cynthia McFadden, a "20/20" anchorwoman, Mr. Stossel said, "It's logical to worry about pesticide residues, but in our tests, we found none on either organic or regular produce".

The New York Times

Sadly, Landsberg says, "we found none".

Science Magazine

In practice, we found none in non-health occupational settings, which is why this review is confined to alarms in healthcare contexts.

Crime Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

We find none here.

Cornell University

"We find none in the SEC Insight newsletter's claims, but investors want to shoot first and ask questions later".

The New York Times

In the war prison, we find none of the techniques of training, labor discipline, or rehabilitation associated with the penitentiary of the Enlightenment reformers.

The New Yorker

Because we find none of these factors present with respect to civil claims arising under RICO, we hold that state courts retain their presumptive authority to adjudicate such claims.

Cornell University

41 We have found none that do.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we found none" to succinctly state the absence of something after a search or investigation. This phrase is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, as supported by Ludwig.

Common error

Avoid using "we found none" when referring to specific countable nouns if the context implies a small, finite number. Instead, use "we found no" followed by the noun. For example, instead of saying "we found none books", it is more appropriate to say "we found no books".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we found none" functions as a declarative statement indicating the absence of something that was searched for. Ludwig confirms the phrase's grammatical correctness and usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

36%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we found none" is a grammatically sound and concise way to express that a search or investigation yielded no results. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. Its neutral register makes it suitable for a variety of contexts, including news reporting, scientific research, and academic writing. While alternatives such as "we didn't find anything" exist, "we found none" offers a succinctness that can be valuable in formal settings. While the phrase is commonly used it is important to ensure you are using it properly with uncountable nouns.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we didn't find anything

Replaces the concise "none" with a more explicit statement of absence.

we discovered nothing

Uses "discovered" to emphasize the act of finding after investigation, but with a null result.

we came up empty

An idiomatic expression indicating that the search yielded no results.

our search yielded nothing

Shifts the focus to the search process itself and its lack of results.

we detected no signs

Emphasizes the absence of any indications or evidence.

no results were found

A passive construction emphasizing the lack of findings.

we observed nothing

Uses "observed" to suggest a careful examination that revealed nothing.

we identified no instances

Highlights the lack of specific occurrences or examples.

we located nothing

Focuses on the failure to pinpoint or discover something specific.

the investigation turned up nothing

Similar to "our search yielded nothing", but emphasizes the investigative aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "we found none" in a sentence?

The phrase "we found none" is typically used to indicate that a search or investigation yielded no results. For example, "We searched the entire building, but "we found none" of the missing documents."

What are some alternatives to "we found none"?

Alternatives to "we found none" include phrases like "we didn't find anything", "we discovered nothing", or "no results were found". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "we found none"?

Yes, "we found none" is grammatically correct. Ludwig confirms its acceptability and provides many examples of its use in reputable sources.

What's the difference between "we found none" and "we found nothing"?

While both phrases convey a similar meaning, "we found none" implies that a specific set of items was being searched for, whereas "we found nothing" is a more general statement about the absence of any findings. Semantically, "we didn't find anything" is interchangeable in most situations.