To not

Question

Can someone please explain me why "I closed the window not to catch cold" is correct rather than  "I closed the window to not catch cold". Isn't it correct to use "to not"??? Thanks is advance

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

"to not X" where X is a verb is called a split infinitive.
The rule is that no word should ever come between the "to" and the following verb in the infinitive form. We should probably add that in modern English the rule seems to modified to include "whenever possible", because there are many situations where the intervening adverb can't be logically put anywhere else! However, the word "not" very, very rarely falls into this group. It can almost always be placed before the "to".

As to your examples, the more idiomatic phrasing is:

I closed the window so (that) I wouldn't catch cold.

So let's try a different example which illustrates the point better.

My feet are sore, so I prefer not to dance just now. (OK)
My feet are sore, so I prefer to not dance just now. (Not OK)

That said, there are quite a few people who violate the rule and believe (wrongly) that "prefer to not ..." is perfectly fine! These people are in the minority. Most people say "prefer not to", which is considered the correct form.

Maverick88 · Answer

Thank you very very much for the explanation, CJ

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