Search results
A double negative is usually created by combining the negative form of a verb (e.g., cannot, did not, have not) with a negative pronoun (e.g., nothing, nobody), a negative adverb (e.g., never, hardly), or a negative conjunction (e.g., neither/nor).
Jan 14, 2021 · 2 A double negative is a non-standard sentence construction that uses two negative forms. Double negatives are created by adding a negation to the verb and to the modifier of the noun (adjectives, adverbs, etc.) or to the object of the verb.
Learn how to use negative words and verbs in standard English and in regional dialects. Find out when and how to use double negation with adjectives and adverbs in formal writing.
Sep 19, 2022 · Double negatives are a common grammar mistake in which the two negative words cancel each other out. The meaning is negated twice, which technically returns the statement to its original positive form—and in the process, creates confusion about the intended meaning.
A double negative is a statement which contains two negative words. If two negatives are used in one sentence, the opposite meaning may be conveyed. In many British, American, and other dialects, two or more negatives can be used with a single negative meaning.
Double negatives can be confusing for two primary reasons. First, they mean the opposite of a negative; the two negative elements cancel each other out, and they actually mean a positive sentence. Second, many uses of a double negative are considered grammatically incorrect.
In standard English, double negatives are considered “bad grammar.” Here’s what they are and why you should avoid using them in your writing. Double negatives can make your writing unclear, but why?
