not opening/not to open/to not open

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navi tasan

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Which are correct:

1-The best solution is not opening the door.
2-The best solution is not to open the door.
3-The best solution is to not open the door.

I think all work. The third one does have a split infinitive, but it has the advantage of not being ambiguous.

Gratefully,
Navi.
 

BobK

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:up: (though I think 1 is on the borderline of acceptability - in collocation with 'solution').

b

PS BNC has only 3 cases of 'solution is <verb>ing', and two of those are present progressives with 'solution' as subject. The remaing one is this:

Surgery can sometimes assist, but again, the only long-term solution is screening of breeding stock.
 
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navi tasan

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Thank you very much Bob.


Surgery can sometimes assist, but again, the only long-term solution is screening of breeding stock.

That sentence sounds a bit odd to me. Shouldn't it be:

a. Surgery can sometimes assist, but again, the only long-term solution is the screening of breeding stock.

or:

b. Surgery can sometimes assist, but again, the only long-term solution is screening breeding stock.

The best way to say would probably be "to screen breeding stock" of course. "b" sound pretty bad, I would think.

Gratefully,
Navi.
 

Tdol

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The third one does have a split infinitive.

Many sentences do. A split infinitive is not an error in itself- they're may be a better rewrite, but there are plenty of cases where it's best IMO.
 
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