chooses not to

USAGE SUMMARY

"chooses not to" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It is used to express a decision that someone or something has made to not do something. Example: Despite being offered a higher paying job, she chooses not to leave her current company because she values the work-life balance it provides.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She chooses not to.

The New Yorker

Billingsley chooses not to.

The New York Times - Sports

He chooses not to move.

The New Yorker

May chooses not to respond.

The Guardian

He just chooses not to live there.

The New York Times

He chooses not to send it.

The Guardian - Sport

He chooses not to tell Sherri.

The New Yorker

Woodward chooses not to look beyond Europe.

The New York Times - Books

But it chooses not to do so.

The New York Times - Sports

He chooses not to make his children.

The Guardian

It just chooses not to do so.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "chooses not to", ensure the context clearly indicates a deliberate decision, not simply an inability or oversight.

Common error

Avoid confusing "chooses not to" with situations where the subject has no agency. The phrase implies a conscious choice, not a lack of opportunity or external constraint.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "chooses not to" functions as a verb phrase expressing a subject's deliberate decision to abstain from a specific action or option. This construction indicates agency and conscious choice, as supported by Ludwig and its examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Academia

20%

Wiki

18%

Less common in

Science

13%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "chooses not to" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express a deliberate decision to abstain from an action. According to Ludwig AI, its function is to clearly communicate this conscious choice. The phrase enjoys broad usage across various contexts, including news, academia, and general writing. While versatile, it is important to ensure the subject has agency and the context reflects a thoughtful decision rather than mere inability. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "prefers not to", "elects not to" or "opts not to", to subtly shift the emphasis of the statement. By keeping these nuances in mind, writers can leverage "chooses not to" effectively and avoid common pitfalls.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prefers not to

Emphasizes a preference against doing something.

elects not to

Implies a formal or deliberate decision not to do something.

opts not to

Suggests a choice is made from available options.

decides against

Highlights the decision-making process leading to avoidance.

refrains from

Indicates a conscious effort to avoid doing something.

avoids doing

Focuses on the action of staying away from something.

declines to

Conveys a polite or formal refusal to do something.

forgoes the opportunity to

Highlights the sacrifice of an opportunity.

passes on

Suggests a rejection of an offer or opportunity.

abstains from

Implies a voluntary act of restraining oneself from something, often with a moral or ethical connotation.

FAQs

How to use "chooses not to" in a sentence?

Use "chooses not to" to indicate a deliberate decision to avoid a particular action or option. For example: "Despite the opportunity, he "chooses not to" participate."

What can I say instead of "chooses not to"?

You can use alternatives like "prefers not to", "elects not to", or "opts not to" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "chooses not to" or "doesn't choose to"?

Both ""chooses not to"" and "doesn't choose to" are grammatically correct, but ""chooses not to"" often implies a more deliberate or conscious decision.

What's the difference between "chooses not to" and "refuses to"?

"Chooses not to" indicates a decision to avoid something, while "refuses to" implies a more active and potentially resistant stance against something.