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Lucas21c Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Not to/to not ~

Are both of "Try not to tell a lie" and "Try to not tell a lie" possible? Or, is only the former acceptable?
  

Top answer

lucas21c Are both of "Try not to tell a lie" and "Try to not tell a lie" possible? Or, is only the former acceptable? It depends who you ask.

— CalifJim

  • lucas21c Are both of "Try not to tell a lie" and "Try to not tell a lie" possible?
  • Or, is only the former acceptable?
  • It depends who you ask.
  • Many of the members of this forum believe that both are completely acceptable.
  • Others even go so far as to see two different meanings.
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4 Answers
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lucas21cAre both of "Try not to tell a lie" and "Try to not tell a lie" possible? Or, is only the former acceptable?
It depends who you ask. Many of the members of this forum believe that both are completely acceptable. Others even go so far as to see two different meanings. Personally, I would never use "to not tell". The word "not" belongs outside the in
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Then, is "When he came home late, he tried to not wake up his wife" also okay though you would not say so?
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There is already a helpful thread about this, here
www.EnglishForward.com/English/ToNotNotTo/bjznxc/post.htm It has useful answers and a link to more, informative answers.
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lucas21cThen, is "When he came home late, he tried to not wake up his wife" also okay though you would not say so?
See the links referred to above.

CJ
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