do not best

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "do not best" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a negative form of "to best" someone or something, but it lacks clarity and context for proper usage. Example: "In this competition, we must do not best our opponents, but rather focus on our own performance."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

To use words that do not best convey that is wrong and misleading.

The New York Times

The paper notes that the concessions in Italy's VAT do not best achieve the aims of reducing inequalities.

The Guardian - Business

Mr. Morales' supporters favor a broader use of indigenous icons in the government, arguing that current "colonial" symbols do not best represent the country's heritage.

The New York Times

Within these, bedform size frequency distributions (predominantly height, width and length) are currently described by several statistics (e.g., mean, median, and standard deviation) that, arguably, do not best capture the defining characteristics of these populations.

Geomorphology

A handshake and occasional sparring session do not best friends make.

Huffington Post

And though at times I am saddened, I do feel a moral obligation and I do believe in a world without conflict as John F. Kennedy envisioned, these things do not best explain the main reason why I do what I do.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

If you don't, best of luck with the foetus and warts that will inevitably ensue.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Could it be the case that today's workforce does not best reflect our society.

The Guardian

They also believed that striving for consensus among experts did not best serve policymakers (statement 34 and 37).

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

The sentence in the abstract stating that additional models are required to clarify the function of PACT does not best justify the study approach.

F1000Research

An examination of the genomic contexts of these mal operons suggests that a simple loss of one of the mal operons does not best explain this evolutionary history.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "do not best" in formal writing. It is not grammatically correct and can confuse your readers.

Common error

Instead of trying to directly negate the verb "best" in this way, rephrase your sentence to use a more standard verb construction. For example, use "do not surpass" or "do not outperform".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "do not best" functions as a negative imperative, attempting to express a prohibition against outperforming or surpassing something. However, as Ludwig AI points out, this construction is not standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

37%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "do not best" may appear in various sources, it is grammatically incorrect and can lead to confusion. As noted by Ludwig AI, standard English does not support this construction. Instead, consider using alternatives like "do not outperform", "do not surpass", or "do not exceed" for clarity and correctness. These alternatives ensure that your intended message is accurately conveyed, avoiding potential misinterpretations. Always prioritize grammatical accuracy and clarity in your writing to maintain professionalism and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

do not beat

A simple and direct way to express not winning or surpassing.

do not outdo

Focuses on avoiding being better than someone else.

do not outperform

Emphasizes the avoidance of exceeding someone else's performance.

do not surpass

Focuses on avoiding exceeding a certain level or achievement.

do not exceed

Highlights staying within a specific limit.

do not top

Indicates not reaching the highest point or score.

do not trump

Emphasizes avoiding surpassing or defeating someone, often in a competitive context.

do not overshadow

Focuses on avoiding appearing more prominent or important than someone else.

do not eclipse

Implies avoiding surpassing someone to the point of making them less significant.

do not excel

Focuses on avoiding exceptional performance in a particular area.

FAQs

How can I rephrase a sentence using "do not best" to be grammatically correct?

Instead of "do not best", use alternatives like "do not surpass", "do not outperform", or "do not exceed" depending on the context.

Is "do not best" a common phrase in English?

No, "do not best" is not a common or grammatically correct phrase in English. It's better to use more standard alternatives such as "do not surpass" or "do not outdo".

What does "do not best" mean?

While the intended meaning might be 'do not outperform' or 'do not exceed', the phrase "do not best" is not a standard English construction and its meaning is unclear. Using clearer alternatives is advisable.

Which is correct, "do not best" or "do not outperform"?

"Do not outperform" is grammatically correct and widely understood, while "do not best" is not. Always choose the former for clear communication.