To Not Only vs. Not Only To – Which is Correct?
Both “to not only” and “not only to” can be grammatically correct, but they serve sentence structures. Use “not only to” when “not only” directly introduces an infinitive, usually followed by “but also.” Use “to not only” when “not only” modifies coordinated actions within an infinitive phrase. Style may favor rephrasing.
To Not Only or Not Only To: Which Is Correct?
Both to not only and not only to are valid American English phrases. The correct choice depends on the structure of the sentence and what you want “not only” to emphasize.
Use not only to when the phrase follows a verb and introduces the first of two parallel infinitives:
The program aims not only to reduce costs but also to improve service.
Use to not only when “not only” appears inside an infinitive phrase and modifies two coordinated verbs or actions:
The program aims to not only reduce costs but also improve service.
The second construction is often called a split infinitive because “not only” comes between to and the base verb. It is grammatically acceptable, although some formal writers prefer not only to reduce because it keeps the infinitive together.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the parallelism test: identify the two actions connected by but also. If the pattern is “not only + verb” and “but also + verb,” either word order may work, but not only to + verb is usually the more traditional formal choice.
For example:
- Traditional structure: The policy seeks not only to protect workers but also to support employers.
- Split-infinitive structure: The policy seeks to not only protect workers but also support employers.
A useful memory aid is this: “Not only to” keeps the two infinitives visibly parallel. Choose “to not only” when placing not only after to makes the intended scope clearer or gives the sentence a more natural rhythm.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| to not only | Infinitive phrase | An infinitive interrupted by “not only” | The plan aims to not only save time but also reduce errors. |
| not only to | Correlative conjunction structure with an infinitive | Introduces the first of two parallel infinitive actions | The plan aims not only to save time but also to reduce errors. |
How to Use To Not Only
To not only is used when “not only” occurs between the infinitive marker to and the base verb. It commonly appears in the pattern to not only X but also Y. The second verb may appear without a second to when the two verbs share the same infinitive structure.
This construction is grammatically sound, but it can sound less formal to readers who prefer not to split an infinitive. It is especially useful when “not only” needs to modify the first action directly or when the sentence sounds more natural with this rhythm.
Example 1: The new software is designed to not only organize files but also protect sensitive data.
Example 2: The campaign hopes to not only attract new customers but also retain existing ones.
Example 3: The training enables employees to not only identify risks but also respond to them quickly.
Etymology of the phrase To Not Only
The phrase combines the infinitive marker to, the negative-focused adverb not, and the focusing adverb only. The correlative pattern not only … but also developed in English over several centuries. The modern placement of “not only” between to and a verb reflects English word-order flexibility and the general acceptability of split infinitives.
How to Use Not Only To
Not only to is often the preferred choice in formal writing because it places not only before the first infinitive and keeps to directly attached to its verb. It usually appears in the balanced structure not only to X but also to Y.
For the clearest parallelism, repeat to before the second verb when both actions are infinitives. This makes the relationship between the two actions immediately visible.
Example 1: The initiative was created not only to increase access but also to improve quality.
Example 2: The scholarship allows students not only to study abroad but also to gain professional experience.
Example 3: The report attempts not only to describe the problem but also to recommend practical solutions.
Etymology of the phrase Not Only To
Not only originated as a combination of negation and limitation: it means “not this exclusively” or “this and something more.” English later paired it with but also to create a correlative construction. When followed by an infinitive, not only to places the first infinitive within that paired structure.
Related Concepts
Understanding parallel structure and split infinitives makes the difference between these two phrases much easier to recognize.
- Correlative conjunctions: Correlative conjunctions work in pairs, such as not only … but also, either … or, and both … and. The elements connected by the pair should have matching grammatical forms.
- Parallel structure: Parallelism means presenting related ideas in the same grammatical pattern. “Not only to reduce costs but also to improve quality” uses two parallel infinitive phrases.
- Split infinitive: A split infinitive places a word between to and the base verb, as in to not only improve. Split infinitives are generally accepted in modern English when they improve clarity or emphasis.
- Scope: Scope refers to the word or phrase affected by an adverb. Moving “not only” can change which action receives the strongest emphasis.
Examples from Media and Literature
The following examples reflect common patterns found in journalism, public communication, business writing, and literary prose:
- News style: The proposal seeks not only to address housing costs but also to expand access to transportation.
- Business writing: The company plans to not only launch the product but also provide long-term customer support.
- Academic writing: The study aims not only to measure performance but also to explain the factors behind it.
- Public speech: We must work to not only solve today’s problem but also prevent it from returning.
- Literary-style narration: She learned not only to endure uncertainty but also to find opportunity within it.
Practice Exercises
Choose the more appropriate phrase, to not only or not only to, to complete each sentence. In several cases, both versions are grammatically possible, but one is more formal or stylistically natural.
- The organization hopes ______ provide assistance but also educate the public.
- The device is designed ______ conserve energy but also improve safety.
- The course allows participants ______ develop technical skills but also build confidence.
- The minister promised ______ review the policy but also consult affected communities.
- The campaign aims ______ raise awareness but also encourage specific action.
Answer Key
- not only to — The formal parallel structure is “not only to provide … but also to educate.”
- to not only — This is a natural split-infinitive construction: “designed to not only conserve … but also improve.” “Not only to” is also possible.
- not only to — The repeated infinitive pattern makes the parallel actions clear.
- not only to — This version is especially suitable for formal or professional writing.
- to not only — The phrase works naturally when “not only” modifies the first action within the infinitive phrase.
To Not Only Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| to both | To perform or achieve two related actions. |
| to do more than | To exceed one expected action or result. |
| to additionally | To perform one action in addition to another. |
| to as well as | To accomplish one thing together with another. |
Not Only To Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| to both | To carry out two actions or pursue two goals. |
| to do more than | To go beyond a single purpose or result. |
| to additionally | To add another action or purpose to the first one. |
| to serve two purposes | To fulfill two distinct aims at the same time. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “to not only” grammatically correct?
Yes. “To not only” is grammatically correct when “not only” appears inside an infinitive phrase, as in “The plan aims to not only reduce costs but also improve quality.” It creates a split infinitive, which is acceptable in modern English.
Question 2: Is “not only to” more correct than “to not only”?
Neither phrase is universally more correct. However, “not only to” is often preferred in formal writing because it preserves a traditional infinitive structure and makes parallelism easier to see.
Question 3: Should I repeat “to” after “but also”?
Repeating to can improve clarity: “not only to reduce costs but also to improve quality.” In shorter or less formal sentences, the second to may be omitted when the grammatical relationship remains clear.
Conclusion
To not only and not only to are both valid. Choose not only to for a traditional, highly parallel formal structure, and choose to not only when the split infinitive sounds more natural or clearly emphasizes the first action. Pro Tip: In professional writing, prioritize parallel structure and clarity; when in doubt, use “not only to … but also to …” to avoid distracting your readers.
