Double Negatives and When to Use Them

DOUBLE NEGATIVES 

Children learn this so-called double-negatives rule right after their “ABCs” or it seems that way. When I was a kid, if a teacher heard you say “I don’t got no . . .” or anything resembling that phrase, you were bent over the desk and rewarded with a beating (usually with a fiberglass yardstick).

I realize teachers aren’t allowed to administer corporal punishment nowadays, but some of them have a glare that’s almost as bad and using double negatives will surely invoke it.

We were taught that using double negatives makes a statement positive; therefore, don’t use them. As an example, our teacher would explain that “I don’t have no apples” technically means “I do have apples.”

I agree that most double negatives are wrong and should be avoided in formal writing; however, they may have a place in informal writing, dialogue, and everyday speech. There is no denying their presence.

There is also one instance I can think of where double negatives even have a place in formal writing. Consider the following sentences:

• I didn’t want to go to the play, but after she bought the tickets, I couldn’t not go.

• My drug-addict brother asked for help again, so I gave him the money. I had to. I couldn’t not help him.

• I can’t imagine it’s not real.

These sentences could have been reworded, but they wouldn’t have carried the same weight. Take a look:

• I didn’t want to go to the play, but after she bought the tickets, I had to go.

• I find it difficult to believe it’s not real.

• My drug-addict brother asked for help again, so I gave him the money. I had to. I had to help him.

Whether you agree that the sentences sounded stronger with the double negatives or without them makes no difference. If someone wanted to word them that way, others shouldn’t complain.

Writers who understand their craft may wish to use double negatives to their advantage, especially for character development, for emphasis, or to make a stronger point. Consider the following:

• Hector was a happy fellow (normal usage).

• Hector was not an unpleasant fellow (double negative).

While grammarians will tell you that a double negative cancels out and turns the sentence into an affirmative, saying Hector was happy paints him as a nicer person than saying he was not unpleasant.

The second sentence gives the impression of a person who may not be unfriendly or dour, but the word choice doesn’t necessarily paint that person as someone you’d want to be around.

Many other examples could be made.

Suppose someone asks your opinion about a friend.

• Braden asked me out, but I haven’t decided if I’m going. Is he a kind person?

This is a question posed to you by Sally, your friend. She is asking about Braden, another friend.

• I’ve known Braden a long time. He’s not unkind.

Saying someone is not unkind falls far short of saying they are a nice person. To me, that statement implies that while Braden may not go out of his way to be mean to others, he isn’t necessarily nice to them. And to cite an example of a double negative in recent use:

In 2012, when President Obama was speaking at the United Nations regarding the Iran nuclear issue, he said the following:

“America wants to resolve this issue through diplomacy, and we believe that there is still time and space to do so. But that time is not unlimited.”

President Barack Obama This tactic is often used by politicians, salesmen, negotiators, et al. It’s similar to giving someone an ultimatum, then saying “I’m not saying you have to decide in five minutes, but you don’t have all day.”

Another example would be if you said something like “I’m not unhappy that Bob and Cathy got divorced.”

You’re not going so far as to say you’re ecstatic about it, but you’re saying you’re not unhappy, it doesn’t upset you. Maybe you and Bob were friends, but you had your eye on Cathy.

Another way to use double negatives is if you want to direct the emphasis of a sentence to a particular place. An example follows:

• • I’m not saying vaping is good for you, but it’s less unhealthy than smoking cigarettes.

In a case like the one above, you’re not saying vaping is good for you. You’re not even saying it’s not unhealthy; you’re saying it less unhealthy than cigarettes. A big difference.

Bottom Line

It’s not uncommon to hear or even read a sentence with double negatives. At times, it’s even beneficial to use them. Some of the more common double negatives you may hear are listed below:

• It’s not unusual . . .
• It’s not impossible. It can be done.
• I’m not unhappy about it.

Sometimes a double negative can have a positive effect on what’s being said. And sometimes it can be a simple case of misuse.

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Giacomo Giammatteo is the author of gritty crime dramas about murder, mystery, and family. And he also writes nonfiction books including the No Mistakes Careers series as well as books about grammar, publishing., and children’s fiction and nonfiction.

When Giacomo isn’t writing, he’s helping his wife take care of the animals on their sanctuary. At last count, they had forty animals—seven dogs, one horse, six cats, and twenty-five pigs.Oh, and one crazy—and very large—wild boar, who used to take walks with Giacomo every day.

He lives in Texas where he and his wife have an animal sanctuary with forty loving “friends.”    

Tags: grammar, grammar myths, writing