[rspec-users] May expect { ... }.to_not be changed to expect { ... }.not_to?

[David Chelimsky]

On Sep 7, 2010, at 10:35 PM, Takumi Tsunokake wrote:

> Hi, I'm Takumi Tsunokake.
> 
> I think
>    expect { ... }.not_to rails_error
> is more grammatical and natural than
>    expect { ... }.to_not rails_error

I think you mean raise_error (I've made the same mistake a few times). I'm pretty sure they're equally valid, grammatically speaking:

Expect x not to y
Expect x to not y

> Are there any backgrounds and reasons of decision for expect
> { ... }.to_not, not expect { ... }.not_to?
> 
> I'm happy if expect { ... }.to_not is changed to expect
> { ... }.not_to.

It's because it aligns better with should[_not]. I think it would be more confusing if we had [not_]to and [should_]not.

HTH,
David