constantly not

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "constantly not" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where you want to emphasize a continuous state of negation, but it is not commonly found in formal writing. Example: "I am constantly not in the mood for social gatherings."

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

But England's Test wicketkeeper was also right to highlight the demands upon those constantly not in the team.

The Guardian - Sport

In the same vein, Romney is constantly "not apologizing" for getting filthy rich by buying companies and putting them through a wood chipper.

The New York Times

Loyalty is instilled constantly, not only in one-off ceremonies whether it be saluting the flag at school or singing the national anthem at a ball game".

The New York Times

Goldstein, a novelist and professor of philosophy, ruefully fears that we have to betray Spinoza constantly, not just religiously, but by yielding to any human affect, love included.

The New York Times - Books

Several teachers got together and, with the approval of the principal, persuaded their colleagues to make students write constantly — not just in English and social-studies courses but in science and math courses as well.

The New Yorker

Technocratic, rootless, soulless; a professionalised morass of time-servers who see ministerial posts as springboards to nice little earners on corporate boards; manoeuvring constantly not on the basis of political principle but for shameless self-advancement.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

He is constantly... not scheming it's not the right word but constantly trying to figure out what other people's angles are".

The New Yorker

He is constantly... not scheming — it's not the right word — but constantly trying to figure out what other people's angles are".

The New Yorker

Not that you need imagine: they do it constantly, and not just the tabloids either.

The Economist

George talked constantly -- not about threatening to move the team to New Jersey, but about the game we were watching.

The New York Times

You constantly do not allow yourself to be yourself.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using alternative phrasing to "constantly not" for clarity and better readability. While grammatically acceptable, it might sound awkward to some audiences. Alternatives include rephrasing the sentence to use a positive statement or employing synonyms such as "never" or "rarely".

Common error

Avoid creating unintentional double negatives. Ensure that the use of "constantly not" does not lead to confusion or imply the opposite of the intended meaning. For instance, instead of saying "He is constantly not paying attention", try "He rarely pays attention" for a clearer message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "constantly not" functions as an adverbial modifier expressing continuous negation. While its intent is to convey a persistent state of absence or non-occurrence, Ludwig AI flags it as potentially confusing, suggesting that clearer alternatives may exist.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "constantly not" is used to express a continuous state of negation. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig AI identifies that the phrasing may cause confusion. It is found in a variety of sources, including news media and wikis, but it's relatively uncommon overall. For improved clarity, consider alternatives like "rarely", "never", or rephrasing the sentence to use a positive statement. When writing, be aware of potential double negatives and aim for more direct phrasing. Although the phrase is used, it is advisable to verify if there aren't better ways to express the same concept, as "constantly not" is not among the common and well accepted phrases. Therefore, make sure that your writing is well crafted by employing alternative phrases or rephrasing the sentence in question.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Perpetually not

Replaces "constantly" with "perpetually", emphasizing the ongoing nature of the negation.

Incessantly not

Substitutes "constantly" with "incessantly", highlighting the unceasing aspect of the negation.

Continually not

Uses "continually" instead of "constantly", focusing on the repeated sequence of the negation.

Regularly not

Replaces "constantly" with "regularly", indicating the negation occurs at consistent intervals.

Consistently not

Uses "consistently" instead of "constantly", emphasizing the uniformity of the negation over time.

Repeatedly not

Substitutes "constantly" with "repeatedly", focusing on the multiple occurrences of the negation.

Always not

Replaces "constantly" with "always", suggesting the negation is present at all times.

Ceaselessly not

Uses "ceaselessly" instead of "constantly", indicating an uninterrupted negation.

Frequently not

Substitutes "constantly" with "frequently", highlighting the high occurrence rate of the negation.

Habitually not

Replaces "constantly" with "habitually", suggesting the negation is a customary behavior.

FAQs

What does "constantly not" mean?

The phrase "constantly not" indicates that something is perpetually or repeatedly absent or not occurring. It suggests a continuous state of negation.

Is "constantly not" grammatically correct?

While grammatically acceptable, "constantly not" isn't standard English and can sound awkward. Consider using clearer alternatives.

What are some alternatives to "constantly not"?

You can use alternatives like "perpetually not", "incessantly not", or rephrase the sentence to use a positive statement.

How can I avoid using "constantly not" in my writing?

Try rephrasing your sentence to use a positive statement or opt for adverbs like "rarely", "never", or "seldom" to convey a similar meaning more clearly. For example, instead of "He is constantly not available", say "He is rarely available".