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The problem with "to not to": a closer look

Reviewed and edited by Anwar Kareem 10/10/2024, 11:42
English.me team member

What kind of error is it?

To not to or not to. What's correct?

Grammatical error

Why do people make this mistake?

People often mistakenly use "to not to" by confusing the placement of "not" within an infinitive phrase; it's an attempt to negate an action improperly.

What is correct?

"Not to" is the correct structure for expressing the negative form of an infinitive phrase in English.

Examples of correct usage

  • I told him not to go.
  • She asked us not to make noise.
  • They decided not to attend the meeting.

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