Chief strategist of the ex President and crook
so, whats wrong with using a double negative to make it doubly negative about stuff!!! Originally Posted by dilbert firestormits used as a weak positive if used correctly.
"In a key sentence in my remarks, I said the word would instead of wouldn't. The sentence should have been, 'I don't see any reason why I wouldn't or why it wouldn't be Russia'... sort of a double negative."Trump's belated correction was publicly criticized on the basis that double negatives are ungrammatical. Not true! Double negatives, when used correctly, are a subtly expressive part of the English language.
The weak positive, in that case, implies that Trump's assertion (as far as it went) was partially correct but did not accurate represent the entire complexity of the double negative as an English grammatical construct.
- That is correct. (strong positive)
- That is incorrect. (strong negative)
- That is not incorrect. (double negative = weak positive)
In addition to the weak positive usage described above, a double negative can be used to intensify the negative. For example:
- "But that time is not unlimited."
The problem with this use of the double negative is that it makes the speaker or writer sound or seem uneducated. There is, however, an important exception: when it's being used ironically.
- I am satisfied. (strong positive)
- I am dissatisfied (strong negative)
- I am not dissatisfied. (weak positive)
- I can't get no satisfaction. (double negative = intensified negative)
Nevertheless, though it's not technically ungrammatical, the intensive negative use of the double negative should be limited to situations where you've already established your grammatical cred and then only when writing casually, as in a blog.
- "I never was nor never will be." (Richard III, Act 4, Scene 4)
its used as a weak positive if used correctly.
Note: Few skills are more important than the ability to write clearly and elegantly. With that in mind, this is another post explaining some of the more curious aspects of the English language.
Nevertheless, though it's not technically ungrammatical, the intensive negative use of the double negative should be limited to situations where you've already established your grammatical cred and then only when writing casually, as in a blog.
But then maybe I don't know for nothing. Use your own judgment. (This is dilby)
Originally Posted by dilbert firestorm
A test result that indicates that a person has a specific disease or condition when the person actually does not have the disease or condition.