Not to abuse

[Anna232]

This sentence is said by a staff member in a company. Which word order is correct "to not abuse" or "not to abuse?" I think it is the first "not to abuse."

We should do everything not to abuse/to not abuse our clients' trust.

 

[Tarheel]

This sentence WAS said by a staff member in a company. Which word order is correct "to not abuse" or "not to abuse?" I think it is the first "not to abuse."

We should do everything not to abuse/to not abuse our clients' trust.

I would say:

This was said by ....

I would say that you should do what you say you are going to do. Is that what they meant?

If you don't keep your promises people will do business with somebody else.

(If I had to choose I would use the first one ("not to abuse").)

 

[Anna232]

I would say:

This was said by ....

I would say that you should do what you say you are going to do. Is that what they meant?

If you don't keep your promises people will do business with somebody else.

(If I had to choose I would use the first one ("not to abuse").)

"To not abuse" isn't ungrammatical, is it? So it depends on each native speaker's preference.

 

[Tarheel]

I can't comment on the grammar of something that's not a sentence.

By "staff member" do you mean "manager"?

If you don't keep your promises you will lose your clients. They will do business with somebody else.

 

[Anna232]

I can't comment on the grammar of something that's not a sentence.

By "staff member" do you mean "manager"?

Yes. I mean if both "not to abuse" and "to not abuse" are correct.

We should do everything not to abuse/to not abuse our clients' trust.

If you don't keep your promises you will lose your clients. They will do business with somebody else.

 

[Tarheel]

I think you could use either one. I don't think it makes much difference.

I don't care which one you use as I wouldn't use either one. (I guess you don't like my alternatives.)

I guess you don't like my sentences. However, I have been speaking the language for over 70 years.

I suggest that if you want to keep your clients that you keep your promises. Nobody likes it when somebody says they're going to do something and then they don't. Only make promises that you can keep. Always tell the truth. Follow through!

If they ask you to do something you can't do, tell them! They will understand. People appreciate being told the truth.

 

[Skrej]

This sentence is said by a staff member in a company. Which word order is correct "to not abuse" or "not to abuse?" I think it is the first "not to abuse."

Both are acceptable. It's just a matter of preference. I probably prefer the second option, but have no qualms about the first.

By the way, you seemed to have mixed up the order when stating your preference, which is actually the second option.

 

[Anna232]

I think you could use either one. I don't think it makes much difference.

I don't care which one you use as I wouldn't use either one. (I guess you don't like my alternatives.)

I guess you don't like my sentences. However, I have been speaking the language for over 70 years.

I am afraid you are wrong. I like your suggestions. I would of course use what a native speaker suggests using. I was just wondering if both are gramnatically correct.

 

[Tarheel]

I didn't mean to be argumentative.

 

[Anna232]

I didn't mean to be argumentative.

Oh, I didn't mean that.