Double Negative ? Is it grammatically correct?

Question

English is not my native language, but im interested in the issue of Standard English and Dialects.

Answer 1

It is correct as part of a 'dialect' such as cockney, North-Norfolk or Scouse. This is used when chatting informally to friends etc'. These dialects are a vital part of British culture and should be kept alive to prevent bland 'MTV' speak taking over our nation.

The use of the double negative is an integral part of the dialect; dialects being the adjustment of words or word order depending on region. They have NOTHING to do with levels of education, bar the fact that up till the 1950s, grammar schools beat local dialects (and left handedness) out of kids through snobbery. People (myself included) are perfectly able to switch from dialect to standard English with ease; I would be interested to compare my academic achievement with that of many language-snobs, many of whom make their own errors (my favourite being the over use of '...and I' when in fact, for statements where the root would be 'me', '...and me' is correct).

They are INCORRECT when written down in anything other than fiction (to show a regional character) or personal writing. Any formal writing should be in Standard (coming from standard meaning flag- as in army) English. This was invented so clear messages could be communicated anywhere in the English speaking world without confusion- so double negs are wrong in essays, schoolwork, business letters, memos and formal emails...

Answer 2

Jane: see my answer above. A double negative in English can be grammatically correct!! It's up to you. There is a great deal of snobbery associated with "correct" grammar. A very funny book on this subject is:
Grammar Snobs Are Great Big Meanies: A Guide to Language for Fun and Spite by June Casagrande
Get it from the library and enjoy.

Answer 3

A double negative is not grammatically correct UNLESS you are intentionally using it. Take for example the phrase

"I DON'T have NO money."
What is really being said is that you do not have NO money, which means you really DO HAVE money. Get it?

But if you were intentionally saying something like
"He DOESN'T NOT HAVE it"
to illustrate that he isn't WITHOUT something, than in that case you wouldn't be completely wrong because your meaning is in accordance with what you’re really trying to say.

Best rule of thumb for someone learning English is to not use double negatives, though, most people will understand what you're really getting at =)

Answer 4

Well it`s not correct but depending where you are it might not be wrong At the end of the day the point of language is to comunicate it`s not a lot of use talking standard English and being grammatically correct ,if no one who you are talking to hasn`t got a clue about what your saying

Answer 5

No but using a double negative makes it a positive even in English...just like it does in math

Answer 6

Regardless of dialect, a double negative is never grammatically correct. To say something like 'I haven't got none' is a mixture of 2 separate sentences - I haven't got any or I've got none. You cannot mix them together. Hope that helps.

Answer 7

It can be used in some situations, such as "a not unjust decision," which is a weak affirmative (two negatives equaling a positive).

Thus "a not infrequent visitor" seems likely to visit less frequently than "a frequent visitor."

But in general usage, you want to avoid the double negative.

Answer 8

- If keen and unwilling have been unique situations (no different thoughts), it would be a double adverse. in spite of the undeniable fact that, they do no longer look to be unique. there is an selection of being apathetic (neither keen nor unwilling), meaning the word isn't double adverse yet a selection of diverse situations. Like asserting a shoe isn't blue.

Answer 9

Something such as 'I can't not go' is generally accepted as it's double negative, like maths turns it to a positive ' I can go'

Answer 10

You can't not say that (double negative - either you can't say it or you can)

But double negative can be used for humorous or satirical effect - you can break rules, but only if you know them to start with.