Which word order is more acceptable?

Between "not be quite oneself" and "be not quite oneself" in a glossary of a book, which one sounds more acceptable to you?

I guess the latter, because I would prefer:

"He's not quite himself."

over:

"He isn't quite himself."

I like the latter too, but Lazar's two sentences are the same thing if you take out the contractions.

D'oh! You're right - I don't know what I was thinking. :) In either case, then, I suppose "be not quite oneself" would be preferable.

But then there's:

"He wouldn't be quite himself, if he were to have a stroke."

In this case it looks like "not be quite oneself" is appropriate.

That's true. The more I think about this, the less clear it seems.

>>But then there's:

"He wouldn't be quite himself, if he were to have a stroke."

In this case it looks like "not be quite oneself" is appropriate.>>

Lol, and actually in that case, I might use a different order from the other two and say, "He wouldn't quite be himself, if he were to have a stroke.