asked not to

USAGE SUMMARY

"asked not to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express when someone has been instructed not to do something. For example, "She was asked not to be late again."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The officer asked not to be identified.

The New York Times

A second was asked not to.

The Economist

(She has asked not to be named).

The New Yorker

"I asked not to play!

The Guardian - Sport

She asked not to be identified.

The New York Times

He asked not to be named.

The Guardian

He asked not to be identified.

The Guardian

Still, most asked not to be identified.

The New York Times

Depositors are asked not to call the bank.

The New Yorker

Fishermen have been asked not to venture out to sea.

BBC

Students are asked not to come to campus".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "asked not to" when you want to convey a polite or formal request for someone to refrain from a specific action.

Common error

Avoid using "asked not to" in extremely informal contexts where simpler phrases like "told not to" or "don't" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "asked not to" is to indicate a request or instruction to refrain from a certain action. This phrase typically appears as part of a verb phrase, modifying another verb to express the prohibition or suggestion. According to Ludwig AI, this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

43%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "asked not to" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to indicate a request or instruction to refrain from a particular action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and readily usable in written English. Predominantly found in News & Media and scientific contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse communications. While alternatives like ""requested not to"" and ""told not to"" offer similar meanings, "asked not to" provides a balanced tone for conveying requests politely yet firmly.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

requested not to

Uses a more formal synonym for "asked", maintaining the same structure and meaning.

told not to

Replaces "asked" with "told", indicating a more authoritative instruction.

instructed not to

A more formal and direct way of saying "told not to", suggesting a clear command.

advised against

Implies a suggestion not to do something, shifting from a direct request to a recommendation.

urged not to

Indicates a strong encouragement to avoid something, conveying a sense of importance.

cautioned against

Highlights a warning aspect, suggesting potential negative consequences.

dissuaded from

Focuses on the act of persuading someone not to do something.

forbid from

Implies a prohibition, a formal or legal ban on an action.

wasn't allowed to

Shifts the focus to permission, indicating that something was not permitted.

was denied the opportunity to

Expresses a lack of opportunity rather than a direct request, changing the emphasis slightly.

FAQs

How is "asked not to" used in a sentence?

"Asked not to" is used to indicate that someone has requested or instructed someone else to refrain from doing something. For example, "The students were "asked not to" use their phones during the exam."

What's a more formal alternative to "asked not to"?

A more formal alternative to "asked not to" is "requested not to". For example, "The participants were "requested not to" disclose any confidential information."

What can I say instead of "asked not to" in a less formal setting?

In a less formal context, you could say "told not to" or "advised against". For example, "He was "told not to" touch the equipment."

Is "asked not to" grammatically correct?

Yes, "asked not to" is grammatically correct and widely used. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English and can be used to express when someone has been instructed not to do something.