Definition of double negative in English:

double negative

noun

Grammar

1A negative statement containing two negative elements (for example he didn't say nothing).
〔语法〕表示否定的双重否定（例如 didn't say nothing）
Example sentencesExamples
- Ain't wasn't a problem; double negatives didn't trouble me; ‘we gotta go’ and the like were fine.
- In some English dialects, after all, a double negative reinforces a negative, it doesn't negate it.
- And the double negative has complete legitimacy in some other European languages.
- I might not know how to conjugate verbs in the preterit, but I knew a double negative when I heard one or when a poem had way too much detail.
- As a result, reminders to offenders have often been couched in such terms as: Mind your grammar - no double negatives!
1. 1.1 A positive statement in which two negative elements are used to produce the positive force, usually for some particular rhetorical effect, for example there is not nothing to worry about!
  表示肯定的双重否定（通常是为了特殊修辞效果，如，there is not nothing to worry about!）
  Example sentencesExamples
  Whenever a lawyer uses a double negative like this, watch out: there's something else more straightforward that he didn't say.
  He, who is master of the double negative, does admit, however: ‘I would not say that individuals are not trying to make connections to radical groups, but in my experience, that would be an extreme minority.’
  Some of the questions seem strange at first - they're double negatives and repetitive - but I think they just want to make sure you are answering them truthfully.
  The obvious difference is here the use of a double negative; not ‘every single note in my version is by Mendelssohn’, but ‘Not a note is not by Mendelssohn’.
  Although Lord Hoffmann had there used a double negative, he held that toleration by the landowner was consistent with user as of right.
  Now, my Lord, what I would say is if this sentence has a double negative in it, ‘are not incompatible’, my friend would be content or would have to be content.

Usage

According to standard English grammar, a double negative used to express a single negative, such as I don't know nothing (rather than I don't know anything), is incorrect. The rules dictate that the two negative elements cancel each other out to give an affirmative statement, so that, logically, I don't know nothing would be interpreted as I know something. In practice this sort of double negative is widespread in dialect and other non-standard usage and rarely gives rise to confusion as to the intended meaning. Double negatives are standard in certain other languages such as Spanish and Polish and they have not always been unacceptable in English, either. The double negative was normal in Old English and Middle English and did not come to be frowned upon until some time after the 16th century, when attempts were made to relate the rules of language to the rules of formal logic. The double negative can be used in speech or in written dialogue for emphasis or other rhetorical effects. Modern (correct) uses of the double negative give an added subtlety to statements: saying I am not unconvinced by his argument suggests reservations in the speaker's mind that are not present in its logical equivalent: I am convinced by his argument. However, the double negative should be used judiciously because it may cause confusion or annoy the reader

Definition of double negative in US English:

double negative

nounˈdəbəl ˈneɡədivˈdəbəl ˈnɛɡədɪv

Grammar

1A negative statement containing two negative elements (for example he didn't say nothing).
〔语法〕表示否定的双重否定（例如 didn't say nothing）
Example sentencesExamples
- Ain't wasn't a problem; double negatives didn't trouble me; ‘we gotta go’ and the like were fine.
- As a result, reminders to offenders have often been couched in such terms as: Mind your grammar - no double negatives!
- I might not know how to conjugate verbs in the preterit, but I knew a double negative when I heard one or when a poem had way too much detail.
- In some English dialects, after all, a double negative reinforces a negative, it doesn't negate it.
- And the double negative has complete legitimacy in some other European languages.
1. 1.1 A positive statement in which two negative elements are used to produce the positive force, usually for some particular rhetorical effect, for example there is not nothing to worry about!
  表示肯定的双重否定（通常是为了特殊修辞效果，如，there is not nothing to worry about!）
  Example sentencesExamples
  Whenever a lawyer uses a double negative like this, watch out: there's something else more straightforward that he didn't say.
  The obvious difference is here the use of a double negative; not ‘every single note in my version is by Mendelssohn’, but ‘Not a note is not by Mendelssohn’.
  Now, my Lord, what I would say is if this sentence has a double negative in it, ‘are not incompatible’, my friend would be content or would have to be content.
  He, who is master of the double negative, does admit, however: ‘I would not say that individuals are not trying to make connections to radical groups, but in my experience, that would be an extreme minority.’
  Although Lord Hoffmann had there used a double negative, he held that toleration by the landowner was consistent with user as of right.
  Some of the questions seem strange at first - they're double negatives and repetitive - but I think they just want to make sure you are answering them truthfully.

Usage

According to standard English grammar, a double negative used to express a single negative, such as I don't know nothing (rather than I don't know anything), is incorrect. The rules dictate that the two negative elements cancel each other out to give an affirmative statement, so that, logically, I don't know nothing would be interpreted as I know something. In practice this sort of double negative is widespread in dialect and other nonstandard usage and rarely gives rise to confusion as to the intended meaning. Double negatives are standard in certain other languages such as Spanish and Polish and they have not always been unacceptable in English, either. The double negative was normal in Old English and Middle English and did not come to be frowned upon until some time after the 16th century, when attempts were made to relate the rules of language to the rules of formal logic. The double negative can be used in speech or in written dialogue for emphasis or other rhetorical effects. Modern (correct) uses of the double negative give an added subtlety to statements: saying I am not unconvinced by his argument suggests reservations in the speaker's mind that are not present in its logical equivalent: I am convinced by his argument. However, the double negative should be used judiciously because it may cause confusion or annoy the reader

词汇	double negative
释义	Definition of double negative in English: double negative noun Grammar 1A negative statement containing two negative elements (for example he didn't say nothing). 〔语法〕表示否定的双重否定（例如 didn't say nothing） Example sentencesExamples Ain't wasn't a problem; double negatives didn't trouble me; ‘we gotta go’ and the like were fine. In some English dialects, after all, a double negative reinforces a negative, it doesn't negate it. And the double negative has complete legitimacy in some other European languages. I might not know how to conjugate verbs in the preterit, but I knew a double negative when I heard one or when a poem had way too much detail. As a result, reminders to offenders have often been couched in such terms as: Mind your grammar - no double negatives! 1.1 A positive statement in which two negative elements are used to produce the positive force, usually for some particular rhetorical effect, for example there is not nothing to worry about! 表示肯定的双重否定（通常是为了特殊修辞效果，如，there is not nothing to worry about!） Example sentencesExamples Whenever a lawyer uses a double negative like this, watch out: there's something else more straightforward that he didn't say. He, who is master of the double negative, does admit, however: ‘I would not say that individuals are not trying to make connections to radical groups, but in my experience, that would be an extreme minority.’ Some of the questions seem strange at first - they're double negatives and repetitive - but I think they just want to make sure you are answering them truthfully. The obvious difference is here the use of a double negative; not ‘every single note in my version is by Mendelssohn’, but ‘Not a note is not by Mendelssohn’. Although Lord Hoffmann had there used a double negative, he held that toleration by the landowner was consistent with user as of right. Now, my Lord, what I would say is if this sentence has a double negative in it, ‘are not incompatible’, my friend would be content or would have to be content. Usage According to standard English grammar, a double negative used to express a single negative, such as I don't know nothing (rather than I don't know anything), is incorrect. The rules dictate that the two negative elements cancel each other out to give an affirmative statement, so that, logically, I don't know nothing would be interpreted as I know something. In practice this sort of double negative is widespread in dialect and other non-standard usage and rarely gives rise to confusion as to the intended meaning. Double negatives are standard in certain other languages such as Spanish and Polish and they have not always been unacceptable in English, either. The double negative was normal in Old English and Middle English and did not come to be frowned upon until some time after the 16th century, when attempts were made to relate the rules of language to the rules of formal logic. The double negative can be used in speech or in written dialogue for emphasis or other rhetorical effects. Modern (correct) uses of the double negative give an added subtlety to statements: saying I am not unconvinced by his argument suggests reservations in the speaker's mind that are not present in its logical equivalent: I am convinced by his argument. However, the double negative should be used judiciously because it may cause confusion or annoy the reader Definition of double negative in US English: double negative nounˈdəbəl ˈneɡədivˈdəbəl ˈnɛɡədɪv Grammar 1A negative statement containing two negative elements (for example he didn't say nothing). 〔语法〕表示否定的双重否定（例如 didn't say nothing） Example sentencesExamples Ain't wasn't a problem; double negatives didn't trouble me; ‘we gotta go’ and the like were fine. As a result, reminders to offenders have often been couched in such terms as: Mind your grammar - no double negatives! I might not know how to conjugate verbs in the preterit, but I knew a double negative when I heard one or when a poem had way too much detail. In some English dialects, after all, a double negative reinforces a negative, it doesn't negate it. And the double negative has complete legitimacy in some other European languages. 1.1 A positive statement in which two negative elements are used to produce the positive force, usually for some particular rhetorical effect, for example there is not nothing to worry about! 表示肯定的双重否定（通常是为了特殊修辞效果，如，there is not nothing to worry about!） Example sentencesExamples Whenever a lawyer uses a double negative like this, watch out: there's something else more straightforward that he didn't say. The obvious difference is here the use of a double negative; not ‘every single note in my version is by Mendelssohn’, but ‘Not a note is not by Mendelssohn’. Now, my Lord, what I would say is if this sentence has a double negative in it, ‘are not incompatible’, my friend would be content or would have to be content. He, who is master of the double negative, does admit, however: ‘I would not say that individuals are not trying to make connections to radical groups, but in my experience, that would be an extreme minority.’ Although Lord Hoffmann had there used a double negative, he held that toleration by the landowner was consistent with user as of right. Some of the questions seem strange at first - they're double negatives and repetitive - but I think they just want to make sure you are answering them truthfully. Usage According to standard English grammar, a double negative used to express a single negative, such as I don't know nothing (rather than I don't know anything), is incorrect. The rules dictate that the two negative elements cancel each other out to give an affirmative statement, so that, logically, I don't know nothing would be interpreted as I know something. In practice this sort of double negative is widespread in dialect and other nonstandard usage and rarely gives rise to confusion as to the intended meaning. Double negatives are standard in certain other languages such as Spanish and Polish and they have not always been unacceptable in English, either. The double negative was normal in Old English and Middle English and did not come to be frowned upon until some time after the 16th century, when attempts were made to relate the rules of language to the rules of formal logic. The double negative can be used in speech or in written dialogue for emphasis or other rhetorical effects. Modern (correct) uses of the double negative give an added subtlety to statements: saying I am not unconvinced by his argument suggests reservations in the speaker's mind that are not present in its logical equivalent: I am convinced by his argument. However, the double negative should be used judiciously because it may cause confusion or annoy the reader
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