To Not or Not To: The Simple Grammar Rule You Need to Know

If you are unsure whether to say “to not” or “not to,” the good news is that both forms can be grammatically correct. The difference is mainly about word order, emphasis, and style. In most everyday and formal English, “not to” is the more traditional and commonly preferred placement.

For example, you can say “I decided not to go” or “I decided to not go.” Both are understandable and grammatical, but “I decided not to go” usually sounds more natural. However, “to not” can be useful when you want to make the negative meaning especially clear or avoid ambiguity. Understanding where not belongs with an infinitive will help you write and speak more naturally.

Quick Answer

“Not to” and “to not” can both be correct. Use “not to + verb” in most situations because it is generally the more natural and traditional structure: I chose not to complain. Use “to not + verb” when it gives clearer emphasis or helps avoid confusion.

Why Do People Confuse “To Not” and “Not To”?

The confusion comes from the structure of the negative infinitive.

An infinitive normally uses:

to + base verb

Examples:

• to go
• to study
• to call
• to complain

To make an infinitive negative, English commonly places not before the infinitive:

not + to + base verb

For example:

• I decided not to go.
• She promised not to tell anyone.
• He tried not to laugh.

However, English also allows:

to + not + base verb

Examples:

• I decided to not go.
• She promised to not tell anyone.
• He tried to not laugh.

The two constructions often communicate the same basic meaning.

First Word: “To Not”

“To not” places not directly after to.

Structure

to + not + base verb

Examples:

• to not worry
• to not interrupt
• to not complain
• to not forget

Example

I chose to not participate in the discussion.

This means that I chose not to participate.

“To not” is especially useful when separating to from the verb makes the negative meaning easier to understand.

Second Word: “Not To”

“Not to” places not before the infinitive.

Structure

not + to + base verb

Examples:

• not to worry
• not to interrupt
• not to complain
• not to forget

Example

I chose not to participate in the discussion.

This has the same basic meaning as:

I chose to not participate in the discussion.

“Not to” is usually the smoother choice in ordinary writing and speech.

“To Not” vs. “Not To”: Comparison Table

Structure	Example	Meaning	Typical Use
not to + verb	I decided not to leave.	I decided that I would stay.	Common and natural
to not + verb	I decided to not leave.	I decided that I would stay.	Also grammatical
not to + verb	She tried not to cry.	She tried to avoid crying.	Very common
to not + verb	She tried to not cry.	She tried to avoid crying.	Possible, sometimes more emphatic

When Should You Use “To Not” or “Not To”?

Use “Not To” in Most Cases

Choose “not to” when you want a natural, straightforward sentence.

• I decided not to call him.
• They agreed not to complain.
• She promised not to tell anyone.
• We tried not to make noise.

This construction is particularly common after verbs such as:

• decide
• agree
• promise
• try
• want
• hope
• remember
• plan

Use “To Not” When It Improves Clarity or Emphasis

Sometimes “to not” can make the intended structure easier to follow.

For example:

The goal is to not repeat the same mistake.

Here, “to not repeat” clearly presents the entire action as the goal.

You may also encounter “to not” when the writer wants to emphasize the negative action:

We need to not only study the rules but also practice them.

Note that “not only” is a separate grammatical construction and should not be treated simply as another example of negative infinitives.

10+ Examples of “To Not” and “Not To”

Here are practical examples showing both structures.

1. Decide

I decided not to go to the party.

I decided to not go to the party.

Both sentences mean that I decided to stay away from the party.

2. Promise

She promised not to tell anyone.

She promised to not tell anyone.

The first version is more conventional.

3. Try

He tried not to laugh.

He tried to not laugh.

Both express an attempt to avoid laughing.

4. Plan

We plan not to change the schedule.

We plan to not change the schedule.

Both can be used.

5. Choose

They chose not to participate.

They chose to not participate.

Both mean they chose to stay out of the activity.

6. Remember

Remember not to lock the door.

Remember to not lock the door.

The first version is usually more natural.

7. Agree

We agreed not to discuss the issue.

We agreed to not discuss the issue.

Both are grammatically possible.

8. Want

I want not to disturb you.

I want to not disturb you.

The second can sound more natural in some contexts, although a different construction such as “I don’t want to disturb you” is often preferable.

9. Hope

She hopes not to disappoint her parents.

She hopes to not disappoint her parents.

Both can work.

10. Need

We need not to forget the deadline.

We need to not forget the deadline.

The first is more traditional.

11. Attempt

He attempted not to show his disappointment.

He attempted to not show his disappointment.

Both versions are possible.

12. Learn

She learned not to trust every online claim.

She learned to not trust every online claim.

The first is generally smoother.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Thinking “To Not” Is Always Wrong

It is not always wrong.

I decided to not participate.

This sentence is grammatically acceptable.

Mistake 2: Thinking “Not To” Is Always Required

“Not to” is common, but “to not” can also be correct.

The choice depends partly on sentence structure, clarity, emphasis, and style.

Mistake 3: Confusing “Not to” With “Not Too”

These expressions have completely different meanings.

• not to = negative infinitive
• not too = not excessively

Compare:

Try not to worry.

Try not to worry too much.

Mistake 4: Using “Don’t” With the Infinitive Incorrectly

Avoid constructions such as:

I decided to don’t go.

Instead, say:

I decided not to go.

or:

I decided to not go.

Memory Trick

Remember:

NOT usually comes before TO.

So:

not + to + verb

not to go
not to eat
not to worry
not to forget

A simple memory sentence is:

“I decided NOT TO go.”

If you remember that pattern, you will usually choose the most natural form.

American vs. British English

Both “not to” and “to not” appear in American and British English.

There is no simple rule saying that one belongs exclusively to American English and the other exclusively to British English.

The difference is more closely related to style, context, emphasis, and sentence structure.

For general writing, “not to” is a safe and natural choice:

She decided not to attend.

However, “to not” is also used by speakers and writers in both varieties:

She decided to not attend.

Similar Words and Structures

Several related structures can cause confusion.

Don’t

Don’t is a contraction of do not.

I don’t want to leave.

Not

Not is the standard negative word used in many constructions.

I decided not to leave.

Never

Never means “at no time.”

I never want to leave early.

Without

Without can sometimes express the idea of avoiding an action, but it is followed by a gerund rather than an infinitive.

He left without saying goodbye.

Not:

He left without to say goodbye.

Final Verdict

“Not to” and “to not” are both grammatically possible in many sentences. However, “not to + verb” is generally the more conventional and natural choice, especially when you simply want to make an infinitive negative.

Use “to not + verb” when the sentence benefits from that word order, clearer emphasis, or a particular stylistic effect. When in doubt, “not to” is usually a reliable choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is “to not” grammatically correct?

Yes. “To not + verb” can be grammatically correct. For example: I chose to not participate. However, “not to participate” is also correct and often sounds more natural.

Is “not to” better than “to not”?

Neither is universally required. “Not to” is generally the more traditional and common construction, while “to not” can be useful in particular contexts.

Should I say “I decided not to” or “I decided to not”?

Both can be correct. “I decided not to go” is usually the more natural choice in everyday English.

Is “to not” informal?

Not necessarily. “To not” appears in standard English in both formal and informal contexts. The choice often depends on sentence structure and style rather than formality alone.

Can “not to” and “to not” change the meaning?

Usually, they have the same basic meaning when used with a negative infinitive. However, word order can sometimes affect emphasis or clarity.

Which is more common: “not to” or “to not”?

“Not to” is generally more common in standard English, especially in straightforward negative infinitive constructions.

Is “to don’t” correct?

No. After to, use the base form of a verb. Say “not to go” or “to not go,” not “to don’t go.”

Remember This

• Not to + verb is the traditional and very common form.
• To not + verb can also be grammatically correct.
• Both can express a negative infinitive.
• Use “not to” when you want the most natural default choice.
• Use “to not” when the context makes that word order clearer or more effective.
• Never use “to don’t.”

Conclusion

The difference between “to not” and “not to” is mainly a matter of word order. In most cases, both forms communicate the same negative meaning, but “not to” is the more established and natural pattern for many everyday sentences.

If you are learning English, start with not + to + verb: not to go, not to worry, not to forget. As you become more comfortable, you will recognize situations where to not + verb also works naturally..