Dealing with double negatives in a sentence

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

English can sometimes be tricky, especially when it comes to grammar rules. One common mistake many people make is using double negatives.

What are double negatives?

A double negative is when you use two negative words in the same sentence. For example:

• “I don’t have no money.”

In this sentence, “don’t” and “no” are both negative words. When you use them together, they cancel each other out. This makes the sentence confusing and incorrect. Instead, you should say:

• “I don’t have any money.”
  or
• “I have no money.”

Why are double negatives a problem?

Double negatives can confuse the meaning of your sentence. In English, using two negatives usually makes a positive. For example:

• “I don’t have no money.”

This actually means you have money, which is the opposite of what you want to say.

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Common negative words

Here are some common negative words in English:

• No
• Not
• Never
• None
• Nothing
• Nowhere
• Nobody

How to avoid double negatives

1. Use one negative word:
Always use only one negative word in a sentence. For example:

• Incorrect: “She didn’t say nothing.”
• Correct: “She didn’t say anything.”

2. Change the second negative word:
If you find two negative words in your sentence, change the second one to a positive word. For example:

• Incorrect: “He can’t find nowhere to park.”
• Correct: “He can’t find anywhere to park.”

3. Practice positive sentences:
Try to make positive sentences. This helps you get used to avoiding double negatives. For example:

• Instead of: “I don’t want no trouble.”
• Say: “I want peace.”

Practice examples

Let’s practice correcting some double negatives:

1. “I don’t know nothing about it.”

• Correct: “I don’t know anything about it.”

2. “We can’t find nobody to help us.”

• Correct: “We can’t find anybody to help us.”

3. “She never goes nowhere on weekends.”

• Correct: “She never goes anywhere on weekends.”

Double negatives in idiomatic expressions

Double negatives can sometimes be found in idiomatic expressions or literary uses in English. These are exceptions to the usual rule, and they often have special meanings. Here are some examples:

1. In no uncertain terms

• Meaning: Very clearly and directly.
• Example: “She told him in no uncertain terms that he was fired.”

2. Not uncommon

• Meaning: Quite common or frequent.
• Example: “It’s not uncommon to see deer in this area.”

3. Not unfamiliar

• Meaning: Familiar or well-known.
• Example: “The concept is not unfamiliar to most students.”

4. Cannot help but

• Meaning: Unable to avoid doing something.
• Example: “I cannot help but laugh at his jokes.”

5. No small

• Meaning: Significant or considerable.
• Example: “Getting the project done on time was no small feat.”

6. Not infrequent

• Meaning: Fairly frequent or common.
• Example: “Such events are not infrequent during the winter months.”

7. No stranger to

• Meaning: Very familiar with something.
• Example: “He is no stranger to hard work.”

8. Not without

• Meaning: Includes or involves.
• Example: “The task is not without its challenges.”

These idiomatic expressions often emphasize a point or add a stylistic nuance to the sentence. While they include double negatives, their meanings are well understood in English and do not cause confusion like typical double negatives.