does not smoke

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "does not smoke" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who does not engage in smoking tobacco or other substances. Example: "She is health-conscious and does not smoke, which contributes to her overall well-being."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Time preference does not mediate the likelihood of smoking if one's mother does not smoke.

Health Economics

Individuals who were occasional smokers (smokes less than 1 CPD or does not smoke daily but does smoke occasionally) were re-coded as smoking 0 CPD.

BMJ Open

"If I point to the no-smoking sign, the passenger will just laugh and keep smoking," said Hui Guo, a cabdriver who does not smoke.

The New York Times

He does not smoke.

The New York Times

Ms. Randell does not smoke.

The New York Times - Food

He does not smoke or drink alcohol.

The New York Times - Sports

Maureen Drennan does not smoke marijuana.

The New York Times

Unlike so many Chileans, he does not smoke.

The New York Times

"My senior year, we had no home football fields," said Colvin, who does not smoke.

The New York Times

He does not smoke; he eats lightly; & instead of drinking wine & liquor, he sniffs it.

The New Yorker

Mr. Heicklen has said that he otherwise does not smoke marijuana.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a person's health habits, using "does not smoke" clearly and directly communicates their avoidance of smoking, contributing to a concise and understandable message.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "does not smoke" automatically implies other healthy habits. While related, it is a specific behavior and doesn't guarantee a healthy lifestyle overall.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "does not smoke" functions as a negative descriptor, indicating the absence of a particular habit. This is commonly used to provide information about someone's lifestyle or health choices. Ludwig confirms this is a standard and usable English phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

2%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "does not smoke" is a grammatically correct and very common way to describe someone who does not engage in smoking. As Ludwig shows, it is used across various contexts, including news, science, and general conversation. The phrase functions as a negative descriptor and serves to provide information about a person's habits, especially regarding health. Alternative ways to express this include "is a nonsmoker" or "doesn't smoke". While the phrase is straightforward, it's important not to assume it implies other healthy habits. Ludwig AI affirms the phrase's validity and common usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

doesn't smoke

This is a contraction of "does not smoke", making it slightly less formal.

is not a smoker

Directly states that the person is not part of the group of smokers.

is a nonsmoker

Replaces the verb phrase with a noun phrase, directly indicating the person's status.

is smoke-free

Emphasizes the absence of smoking in their life or environment.

avoids smoking

Focuses on the active avoidance of the act of smoking.

abstains from smoking

Highlights a conscious and deliberate choice not to smoke.

refrains from smoking

Similar to abstaining, but can also imply a temporary avoidance.

has never smoked

Indicates a lifelong avoidance of smoking.

eschews smoking

A more formal way of saying someone avoids smoking.

is anti-smoking

Indicates a stance against smoking, which often implies not smoking themselves.

FAQs

How to use "does not smoke" in a sentence?

You can use "does not smoke" to describe a person's habits, such as "She "eats healthy", exercises regularly, and "does not smoke"".

What can I say instead of "does not smoke"?

You can use alternatives like "is a nonsmoker", "doesn't smoke", or "is smoke free" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "does not smoke" or "is not smoking"?

"Does not smoke" generally describes a habitual state, while "is not smoking" describes a current action. For example, "He "does not smoke"" implies a general habit, while "He "is not smoking" right now" indicates a temporary state.

What is the difference between "does not smoke" and "never smoked"?

"Does not smoke" indicates a current habit, whereas "never smoked" indicates that the person has not smoked at any point in their life. One could have smoked and stopped, and then "does not smoke", but still not be able to claim that they "never smoked".