and not to comment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "and not to comment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating a desire or instruction to refrain from making comments on a particular subject or situation. Example: "I appreciate your input on the matter, but I would prefer you to listen and not to comment during the discussion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

It advises Chinese businesses not to rush in blindly, not to expect quick returns and not to comment on North Korean politics.

The Economist

Also, reporters were told to stick to their own beats when using Twitter, and not to comment on nonwork subjects from their official accounts, The Guardian reported.

The New York Times

New jurors are warned, both prior to joining a jury and by the judge at the onset of a trial, that it is their solemn duty to only assess the case on the evidence before them in court and not to comment to outsiders.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The two hosts have been taken off the air and told not to comment, and they have reportedly disabled their Twitter accounts.

The New York Times

The FA has been notified about the claim and chosen not to comment.

The Guardian - Sport

Because the mediator, George Cohen, asked the league and the union not to comment publicly on negotiations, it was not clear if any progress was made.

The New York Times - Sports

(Despite repeated attempts, Vaswani and Paranjpe chose not to comment on any issues).

Forbes

Patients were asked to answer quickly and evaluators asked not to comment any question of the tests.

BMJ Open

These experiments are still ongoing, however, at this time we only have negative data to report and have chosen not to comment in the revised manuscript.

eLife

Of course, many respondents chose not to comment and consequently the comments made are not necessarily representative of the views of the entire cohort.

BMC Medical Education

BlackBerry's policy is not to comment on rumors or speculation, and accordingly it does not intend to comment further.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Remember that while grammatically sound, "and not to comment" can sometimes sound passive. Consider more active alternatives like "and declined to comment" when appropriate.

Common error

While "and not to comment" is grammatically correct, overuse can lead to passive constructions. Aim for a more direct and active voice by stating who is taking the action. For example, replace "The company chose and not to comment" with "The company declined to comment."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "and not to comment" functions as a conjunction phrase, typically used to indicate a decision or instruction to abstain from offering an opinion or statement. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and found in various news and media sources.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Science

23%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "and not to comment" is a grammatically correct conjunction phrase used to indicate the act of refraining from making a statement or offering an opinion. Ludwig AI validates its correctness, and real-world examples show it's commonly used in news and media, as well as scientific publications. While acceptable, consider using more active alternatives such as "decline to comment" for more directness and clarity. Keep in mind is essential that the phrase is most frequent in "News & Media" contexts, making it an important phrase to know when creating journalism or reading.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

and refrain from commenting

Replaces "not to comment" with a more formal verb phrase.

and avoid commenting

Suggests actively preventing oneself from making comments.

and withhold comment

A shorter, more direct way of saying "not to comment".

and decline to offer commentary

Uses a more formal tone, emphasizing a refusal to provide an explanation or opinion.

and choose to remain silent

Highlights the act of consciously opting not to speak.

and offer no opinion

Focuses on the lack of expressing a personal belief or judgment.

and make no pronouncements

Emphasizes the avoidance of making official statements or declarations.

and say nothing

A very simple and direct way of stating the intention to not comment.

and keep quiet about it

Indicates maintaining silence about a specific topic.

and stay mum

An informal way to express the decision not to comment.

FAQs

How can I use "and not to comment" in a sentence?

You can use "and not to comment" when you want to indicate that someone is choosing not to provide an opinion or statement. For example: "The suspect was apprehended, and not to comment on the ongoing investigation".

What are some alternatives to "and not to comment"?

Some alternatives include "decline to comment", "refrain from commenting", or "offer no comment", depending on the context.

What's the difference between "and not to comment" and "declined to comment"?

"And not to comment" is more descriptive, while "decline to comment" is a more concise and direct way of saying the same thing. "Declined to comment" is generally preferred in journalistic writing for its brevity.

Is it better to use "and chose not to comment" or "and not to comment"?

"And chose not to comment" emphasizes the active decision to remain silent. The choice between "and chose not to comment" and "and not to comment" depends on whether you want to highlight the decision-making process.