not it is

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not it is" is not correct and usable in written English.
It appears to be an incorrect construction and does not convey a clear meaning in standard English usage. Example: "I thought it was going to rain, but not it is sunny outside."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Why not? "It is unconstitutional.

The Economist

Maybe not; it is hard to say.

The Economist

More often than not, it is.

The New Yorker

If it is not, it is chiral.

Encyclopedia Britannica

If not, it is usually a disaster.

The New York Times - Magazine

Believe it or not, it is soaring.

The Economist

death is not, it is nought.

The New Yorker

If not, it is returned.

The New York Times

If not, it is invalid.

Britannica

Fear not, it is possible.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

(It is not. It is kind of nasty).

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct grammatical order: "it is not" or "it isn't". This ensures clarity and avoids confusion.

Common error

Avoid inverting the standard subject-verb order. Saying "not it is" sounds unnatural and deviates from standard English grammar.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not it is" functions as an inverted or non-standard clause. As Ludwig AI explains, this word order deviates from typical English sentence structure, where the subject usually precedes the verb. This deviation makes the phrase grammatically incorrect in most contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Academia

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not it is" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and is rarely used in contemporary English. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. The correct and commonly accepted form is "it is not" or "it isn't". While it might appear in specific stylized or archaic contexts, it's best to avoid this phrase in both formal and informal communication to maintain clarity and grammatical accuracy. Using alternatives like "it is not" or "that is not the case" ensures effective and correct expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is not

This is the correct grammatical order of the words.

it isn't

A contraction of "it is not", suitable for informal contexts.

that is not the case

Emphasizes that a previous statement or assumption is incorrect.

that's not it

Indicates that something is not the correct or intended item or answer.

it does not

Emphasizes a denial or contradiction of a previous statement.

that is incorrect

Directly states that something is wrong or inaccurate.

it's the opposite

Indicates that the true situation is the reverse of what was stated.

actually, it is

Expresses polite disagreement, then affirms the true situation.

conversely, it is

Indicates that the true situation is the reverse of what was stated.

in fact, it is

Introduces a statement that is true, often contrary to a previous one.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "not it is"?

The correct way to express this thought is to use the standard subject-verb order: "it is not" or the contraction "it isn't".

When can I use "not it is" in a sentence?

The phrase "not it is" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. It's best to avoid using it in formal writing or speech.

What can I say instead of "not it is"?

You can use alternatives such as "it is not", "it isn't", or "that is not the case" depending on the context.

Is "not it is" ever used correctly?

While exceedingly rare and generally ungrammatical, "not it is" might appear in highly stylized or archaic contexts. However, in contemporary English, it's virtually always incorrect.