"I believe in God, but not in ghosts."

Translation: Πιστεύω στον Θεό αλλά όχι στα φαντάσματα.

[Bohuslav1]

Why is it όχι and not δεν?

[mizinamo]

δεν is used to negate verbs, όχι other things such as, here, a noun.

[jeanprendiville]

I have been told that in the recent grammar changes, στο θέο is not acceptable because of a possible confusion with the neuter στο. To elide feminine and neuter is correct but not masculine. Where does Duo stand?

[fazulakis]

Hi jeanprendiville, could you please elaborate? I keep getting confused about the "-ν" rules. According to what was said in many other entries, "στο θεό" would be correct... Could anyone please summarise the exceptions to the rules? Thank you!

[Alex_GR1]

fazulakis and others: "δε" takes an "ν" at the end, if the word that follows starts with: a vowel, or
the consonants "κ,π,τ,ψ,ξ", or
the double consonants "μπ, ντ, γκ, τσ, τζ"

Modern exception to the rule: "θ". Examples:
"Δεν θυμάμαι" (I don't remember)
"Δεν θέλω να φάω" (I don't want to eat)

[Maia_TheOne]

One comment: the "-ν" HAS to stay in front of the words as Alex_GR1 mentioned above. You may not drop it.
I understood that it is not an obligation to drop the final "-ν".
If you want you can always use it. However, it is not how people speak.

[Palo75847]

Why are not "τα στοιχειά" for "ghosts" accepted?

[G.Georgopoulos]

Very rare, but I've added it. It's highly unlikely you'll ever encounter this word.

[Maia_TheOne]

Could
πιστεύω στον Θέο, αλλά όχι στα πνεύματα
be acceptable?