[Idiom] There never was VS There was never

[naweewra]

Hello,

Where should "never" go in the following sentence?

a) There never was a more awkward boy than Barnie.

b) There was never a more awkward boy than Barnie.

I have seen both positions, but I don't know if they are used in exactly the same construction or if they mean exactly the same or not. Does the emphasis change when the word "never" changes position?

Thank you.

Nawee

 

[Rover_KE]

They mean the same to me.

Rover

 

[naweewra]

Do they both have the same emphasis? Do they make any styistic differences?

Thank you.

 

[bhaisahab]

Do they both have the same emphasis? Do they make any styistic differences?

Thank you.

They mean the same to me too.