Try not to / try to not

Question

Can you use both expressions?Try not to offend peopleTry to not offend peoplethanx

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

You can use both.

Personally, I would never use the second one, however, and I don't recommend it.

CJ

Tintiman · Answer

is there a grammatical rule for it?

CalifJim · Answer

tintiman is Is there a grammatical rule for it?

Yes. "Do not split an infinitive." That means that no words can go between to and the following verb.

You will read in some books that the rule must be obeyed without exception in all cases.

You will read in other books that the rule is foolish and can be disobeyed.

You will read in other books that the rule should be obeyed when a negative word (like not or never) would come between to and the verb, but that in other cases the rule may be disobeyed.

I have never known any group of people to agree completely on this topic. My recommendation is to obey the rule when you can, but to recognize that there is sometimes no way to avoid splitting the infinitive, especially in more complex sentences.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Well, rule aside, I think the answer lies in the difference in the characterization of the two undertakings. "Try not to offend..." Is a passive, subsidiary intention, whilst "Try to not offend..." Is a more active, primary intention. In the second case, you must actually try to not offend. In the first case as long as your intention was not to offend, you're on side. Subtle, but real.

Anonymous · Answer

I really appreciate this! It helped me out.

Thank you.

Best wishes.

Olive blue 752 · Answer

If you guys allow me there's a singularity. When we use a verb to be. For example:

"The question is not to be a foolish people, the question is to not be a wise people"

When we split the infinitive, would we have a different meaning?

What do you think of?

Anonymous · Answer

https://www.EnglishForward.com/English/ToNotNotTo/bjznxc/post.htm

Try not to / try to not

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