"not being" vs "being not"

Question

"not being" vs "being not"

Both "not being" and "being not" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Not being" is more commonly used and is the standard word order in English. On the other hand, "being not" is less common and tends to be used for emphasis or in formal writing.

Last Updated: April 01, 2024

The phrase "not being" is the standard word order in English and is used to negate the action of being. It is commonly used in everyday language.

Examples:

I am not being rude, I am just being honest.
Not being able to attend the meeting, she sent her apologies.
He is not being very cooperative today.

Alternatives:

not existing
not happening
not occurring
not taking place
not appearing

"Being not" is less common and tends to be used for emphasis or in formal writing. It can be used to give more weight to the negation of the state of being.

Examples:

Being not a native speaker, he struggled with the language.
Being not a fan of horror movies, she decided not to watch the film.
Being not a doctor, he couldn't offer medical advice.

Alternatives:

not being
not existing
not happening
not occurring
not taking place

Answer 1

not being

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

Answer 2

being not

This phrase is correct but less common in everyday language.

"not being" vs "being not"

not being

being not

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