tend not to / don't tend to

[herbivorie]

Do "tend not to" and "don't tend to" have the same meaning?
For example,

1. Dictionaries tend not to track technical usages.
2. Dictionaries don't tend to track technical usages.

Are they both correct? Do they have the same meaning?

 

[Ali Hsn]

Hello.

*I AM NOT A NATIVE OR TEACHER.*

Both of them are grammatically correct and meaningful but the meanings in some contexts could be subtly different.

In the first sentence, the infinitive, "to track", is negated: Dictionaries tend not to track technical usages.
In the second sentence, the verb, "tend", is negated: Dictionaries don't tend to track technical usages.

 

[herbivorie]

Thank you, but I'll wait for replies from native speakers.

 

[MikeNewYork]

There is a subtle difference, although that is only important if the writer/speaker intended the difference.

1. Dictionaries tend not to track technical usages.
2. Dictionaries don't tend to track technical usages.

The first suggests that they have a position against the tracking.
The second suggest that they don't have a position in favor of the tracking.

Neither suggests an absolute prohibition.