in order not to think

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in order not to think" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a purpose or intention to avoid thinking about something specific. Example: "She kept herself busy with work in order not to think about her problems."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

In order not to think about this distressing situation I thought about the palace.

The New Yorker

You think about him in order not to think about yourself.

The Guardian - Books

In fact, Weil asserts, we take sides for or against a given position in order not to think.

The New York Times

In Dancer he impersonated the much documented and highly mythologised Rudolf Nureyev, weaving imagined accounts of fictitious characters into a fabric of documentary truth which portrayed a man who went from near-starvation in wartime Russia to an excess of fame and self-gratification in New York, Paris and London: "I dance so much - too much - in order not to think of home".

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"I did go through a phase where I felt intimidated by any negative opinion, and I think in order not to look intimidated, I adopted the opposite reaction of being very stroppy and probably what came across as diva-ish.

The Guardian - Music

Russell: I think in order not to be extinguishing fires in your personal and professional life you need to 1. Get a plan, 2. Engage, and 3. Get it done.

Huffington Post

"In order not to have to steal or kill, I thought it better to sell my kidney".

The New York Times

Gaja intervened, very sensibly I thought, to say that in order not to tax the kitchen, we should double up and order some of the same things.

Los Angeles Times

Try not to think about what you'd have to do in order to kill every single one of them.

Vice

You didn't watch Malcolm Tucker in The Thick of It in order to think about Alastair Campbell.

The Guardian

In order to think, Elroy needed to buy a pencil.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in order not to think", ensure the sentence clearly explains what action is being taken to avoid thinking about something specific.

Common error

Avoid using "in order not to think" when a simpler construction like "to avoid thinking" is more appropriate and less verbose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in order not to think" functions as an adverbial phrase of purpose, modifying a verb by explaining the reason why an action is performed. Ludwig confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Books

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in order not to think" serves as a purpose connector, used to explain the reason for avoiding certain thoughts. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable. While examples are not abundant, the contexts in which it appears—primarily in News & Media and Books—highlight its role in expressing intention in various situations. Simpler alternatives like "to avoid thinking" may sometimes be preferred for conciseness. Overall, the phrase is useful for expressing a deliberate effort to avoid dwelling on specific thoughts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

so as not to think

Replaces "in order" with "so as", offering a slightly more concise alternative with the same meaning.

to avoid thinking

Uses a simpler infinitive phrase to express the intention of preventing thought.

to prevent thinking

Emphasizes the act of stopping the thinking process.

with the intention of not thinking

A more verbose phrase that explicitly states the intention.

in an effort to not think

Highlights the effort made to suppress thought.

as a way to not think

Focuses on the method used to avoid thinking.

for the purpose of not thinking

A more formal way of stating the reason for avoiding thought.

lest I think

Uses "lest" to introduce a clause expressing fear or concern about thinking.

so that I wouldn't think

Expresses the intention of avoiding thinking, but with a slightly different grammatical structure.

in hopes of not thinking

Expresses a wish or desire to avoid thinking.

FAQs

How can I use "in order not to think" in a sentence?

You can use "in order not to think" to express the reason for performing an action. For example, "She kept busy "in order not to think" about her problems".

What are some alternatives to "in order not to think"?

Some alternatives include "to avoid thinking", "so as not to think", or "to prevent thinking".

Is "in order to think" grammatically correct?

Yes, the phrase "in order to think" is grammatically correct and commonly used to express purpose.

What's the difference between "in order not to think" and "so as not to think"?

The phrases "in order not to think" and "so as not to think" are largely interchangeable, with "so as not to think" being slightly more concise.