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Double Negative
What Is a Double Negative? (with Examples)
A double negative occurs when two negative terms are used in the same sentence. For example:- I don't have no money.
- I didn't see nothing.
- I couldn't find it nowhere.
Logically, two negatives convey a positive sense. So, the double negative "I don't have no money" literally means "I have money." While some assert that a double negative with an intended negative meaning is a form of accent and, therefore, not a mistake, most of your audience would consider such usage an error. However, not every double negative is an error. Double negatives can be deployed deliberately to convey sensitivity or diplomacy:
- I wouldn't describe you as unattractive.
- You are not without experience.
Table of Contents
- Examples of Double Negatives
- What about a Triple Negative?
- Why Double Negatives Are Important
- (Reason 1) A double negative is usually a mistake.
- (Reason 2) A double negative can provide a touch of diplomacy or subtlety.
- Printable Test

Examples of Double Negatives
The following double negatives would all be considered mistakes:- My daughter Chantelle wouldn't shout at nobody. (A negative verb with the negative pronoun nobody)
- Chantelle didn't never call the teacher that word. (A negative verb (didn't call) with the negative adverb never)
- She did not have neither her address nor her phone number. (A negative verb with the negative conjunction neither/nor)
- Yeah, but, no, but there's this thing you don't know nuffin' about, so don't give me no evils. (Vicky Pollard) (A negative verb with the negative pronoun nuffin' [sic] and then a negative verb with the negative noun phrase no evils)

What about a Triple Negative?
You don't see triple negatives often, but here's a witty one:- I cannot say that I do not disagree with you. (Comedian Groucho Marx) (If you follow it through logically, you'll find it means "I disagree with you".)
(Reason 1) A double negative is usually a mistake.
A double negative that portrays a positive sense when a negative one is intended is a mistake. If it occurs in writing, it's a grammatical howler. If one occurs in speech, it can usually be dismissed as a slip of the tongue. (Well, one can. More than one can't.)- Russ didn't steal nothing. (Logically, this means Russ stole something. In reality, readers nearly always understand the intended meaning.)
(Reason 2) A double negative can provide a touch of diplomacy or subtlety.
With the following double negatives, the resultant positive meaning is intentional.- He is not unattractive.
- He is not unconvincing.
- He is not without charm.
"He is not unattractive" is subtler than "He is attractive." As these double-negative constructions sound more factual than complimentary or unkind, they can be useful when a touch of diplomacy or subtlety is required.
- A double negative giving an unintended positive sense is an error.
- A double negative with an intended positive sense can be useful when a touch of diplomacy might not be unhelpful.
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