"and not to" vs "and to not"

Question

"and not to" vs "and to not"

Both "and not to" and "and to not" are correct constructions in English, but they are used in different contexts. "And not to" is commonly used to express a negative condition or consequence, while "and to not" is less common and may sound awkward in some contexts.

Last Updated: March 08, 2024

Use "and not to" to indicate that something should not be done or to express a negative outcome that should be avoided.

Examples:

He decided to stay home and not to go to the party.
She asked him to be quiet and not to disturb the others.
The goal is to save money and not to spend it all at once.

Alternatives:

and to not
but not to

Use "and to not" when the negative form of the verb is emphasized or when the sentence structure requires placing "not" after the verb.

Examples:

She wanted to try the new food and to not regret it later.
He decided to speak up and to not remain silent.
The plan is to finish the project on time and to not delay it further.

Alternatives:

and not to
but not to

Answer 1

and not to

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express a negative condition or consequence.

Answer 2

and to not

This phrase is correct but less common in English. It may sound awkward in some contexts.

"and not to" vs "and to not"

and not to

and to not

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