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not to be vs to be not

Both "not to be" and "to be not" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Not to be" is commonly used to express something that should not happen or exist, while "to be not" is less common and sounds more formal or poetic.

Last updated: March 29, 2024 • 1054 views

not to be

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used to express something that should not happen or exist. It is often used in negative contexts.

Examples:

  • To be or not to be, that is the question.
  • It's not to be missed.
  • This is not to be taken lightly.
  • It's not to be underestimated.
  • This is not to be confused with the other one.
  • Tell them you're not to be disturbed until you give further orders.
  • Try not to be so sensitive.
  • Kitty will be disappointed not to be a bridesmaid.
  • Trying not to be that person.
  • And tell him not to be late.
  • Try not to be too rough.
  • Do tell my husband not to be so disagreeable.
  • There's no reason not to be reasonable.
  • No reason not to be civil.
  • My mother raised me not to be anti-Japanese.
  • Programmes for improving safety ought not to be excluded.
  • The French proved not to be scrapped.
  • I think that my Guardian Angel decided not to be idle today.
  • I told them we had an informer, but that Private Santiago was not to be harmed.
  • In the case of Henri Young... this happens not to be true.
  • I gave orders that the lady was not to be harmed.
  • My wife seemed not to be as concerned as I was.
  • Like unnecessary attention drawn where it ought not to be.
  • I seem not to be ripe for death yet.
  • You realize this breaks our pact not to be alone together.

Alternatives:

  • not to happen
  • not to exist
  • not to occur
  • not to occur
  • not to take place

to be not

This phrase is correct but less common in everyday English usage.

This phrase is less common and sounds more formal or poetic. It can be used for emphasis or in specific literary contexts.

Examples:

  • To be or to be not, that is the question.
  • He seemed to be not himself that day.
  • She appeared to be not interested in the conversation.
  • The decision was made to be not in favor of the proposal.
  • The plan turned out to be not what we expected.
  • It needs several listenings to be understood, but it has the great merit to be not a banal work, it's felt music that transmit emotions.
  • He seems to be not quite all right in the head.
  • We need to be not only proud of our universities.
  • We could make them evolve to be not so harmful to us.
  • Turned out to be not so perfect.
  • Starting to be not so fun.
  • I was found to be not at fault for that.
  • You're supposed to be not smoking pot.
  • I have chosen to be not bitter, but better.
  • This frequency was thought to be not fit for broadcasts over great distances.
  • That turned out to be not such an easy task.
  • We need to be not only proud of our universities.
  • Pathological levels of tooth wear, which seem to be not age dependent.
  • Speaking in tongues is understood to be not irrational but suprational utterance.
  • Text The page you're looking for seems to be not available.
  • Moray may prove to be not man enough for her.
  • They tend to be not too socially conspicuous.
  • Interesting storyline and plot twists, seem to be not sufficient to attract the American public.
  • You should push yourself to be not so derivative.
  • Where a certain endpoint is considered to be not relevant, this should be justified.

Alternatives:

  • not to be
  • not to seem
  • not to appear
  • not to look
  • not to feel

Related Comparisons

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