Grammar Tip: Double Negatives
A double negative incorporates two negative words in the same sentence and expresses a single negative idea. In the following sentences, the double negative words are bolded: “Richard didn’t write nothing” and “She never argued with nobody.” Grammatical rules dictate that two negative components in a clause cancel one another out and create a positive statement instead. Therefore, the sentence, “She never argued with nobody” can be interpreted as “She argued with somebody.” Double negatives are often interpreted as meaning the opposite of what was intended.
Double negatives are not considered acceptable according to the standard grammatical rules of English. Therefore, they should be avoided in formal writing. Writers should only use a single negative to communicate their ideas.
On rare occasions, double negatives, however, can be useful and applicable when the writer wants to place more emphasis on the degree of negativity in an idea. For example, “less unhealthy dietary choices” places more emphasis on the risks of unhealthy food consumption.
Be mindful of the common uses of double negatives:
- Don’t have nothing
- Ain’t got no
- Don’t need no
