No Double Negatives!
Moderators: Omphalos, Freakzilla, ᴶᵛᵀᴬ
-
- Posts: 315
- Joined: 23 Apr 2008 01:55
- Location: Cedon
No Double Negatives!
One of the most common mistakes in English grammar is a double negative. This irritates me the most of all errors in grammar because it's often an accepted mistake and yet the mistake is sooooo obvious! I'd rather hear profanity than the double negative.
Especially with the term 'aint'. Sure it's not a real word, but it is a slang for haven't or isn't or don't. "I aint got no money" You don't have NO money which means you HAVE money! "You aint seen nothing yet" I have not seen NOTHING yet which means I HAVE seen something.
"There aint nothing in the box" There are many more examples I could give. But it's not strictly for 'aint'. Here are some lines from songs that use the idiotic double negative:
"I don't want no one but you" "I wouldn't have nothing if I didn't have you"
And finally there are the single word double negatives: Misunderestimate and Irregardless. What if somebody misunderstood the person who was saying the double negative? Could you imagine what could happen? Don't the idiot users know that the two negatives cancel each other out?
There will be no use of double negatives in my Library. I'm making it an official rule. If somebody does, they will be asked to rephrase what they said or leave.
Especially with the term 'aint'. Sure it's not a real word, but it is a slang for haven't or isn't or don't. "I aint got no money" You don't have NO money which means you HAVE money! "You aint seen nothing yet" I have not seen NOTHING yet which means I HAVE seen something.
"There aint nothing in the box" There are many more examples I could give. But it's not strictly for 'aint'. Here are some lines from songs that use the idiotic double negative:
"I don't want no one but you" "I wouldn't have nothing if I didn't have you"
And finally there are the single word double negatives: Misunderestimate and Irregardless. What if somebody misunderstood the person who was saying the double negative? Could you imagine what could happen? Don't the idiot users know that the two negatives cancel each other out?
There will be no use of double negatives in my Library. I'm making it an official rule. If somebody does, they will be asked to rephrase what they said or leave.
Last edited by Nebiros on 06 Aug 2010 08:53, edited 2 times in total.
- Omphalos
- Inglorious Bastard
- Posts: 6677
- Joined: 05 Feb 2008 11:07
- Location: The Mighty Central Valley of California
- Contact:
Re: No Double Negatives!
Im still waiting for my review copy of The Monster of Rok-Rok.
- merkin muffley
- Posts: 1584
- Joined: 23 Apr 2010 15:18
- Location: War Room
Re: No Double Negatives!
I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!
EDIT: I'm going to be in West Virginia by tomorrow afternoon, without the internet or cell phones, sometimes in a canoe. I'm thinking that I might dictate some fan-fic.
EDIT: I'm going to be in West Virginia by tomorrow afternoon, without the internet or cell phones, sometimes in a canoe. I'm thinking that I might dictate some fan-fic.
- SandRider
- Watermaster
- Posts: 6163
- Joined: 05 Oct 2008 16:14
- Location: In the back of your mind. Always.
- Contact:
Re: No Double Negatives!
hey, Chigger, you can come from under the bed now - the universe is back on track ....
first off, "misunderestimate" is a "Bushism" .... I could explain that for you, but do your own googling ...
and I could explain to you the cultural evolution of the "double negative" in Southern Dialects,
but, since you're apparently some kind of Language Expert, maybe you could explain it to me ...
also: about the only thing that irritates me more than some jackleg bitching about other people using
the word "ain't" and explaining why it isn't correct grammar is when one of them there fat grey deer
ticks attaches itself to my bunghole ....
first off, "misunderestimate" is a "Bushism" .... I could explain that for you, but do your own googling ...
and I could explain to you the cultural evolution of the "double negative" in Southern Dialects,
but, since you're apparently some kind of Language Expert, maybe you could explain it to me ...
also: about the only thing that irritates me more than some jackleg bitching about other people using
the word "ain't" and explaining why it isn't correct grammar is when one of them there fat grey deer
ticks attaches itself to my bunghole ....
................ I exist only to amuse myself ................


I personally feel that this message board, Jacurutu, is full of hateful folks who don't know
how to fully interact with people. ~ "Spice Grandson" (Bryon Merrit) 08 June 2008


I personally feel that this message board, Jacurutu, is full of hateful folks who don't know
how to fully interact with people. ~ "Spice Grandson" (Bryon Merrit) 08 June 2008
- SandChigger
- KJASF Ground Zero
- Posts: 14492
- Joined: 08 Feb 2008 22:29
- Location: A continuing state of irritation
- Contact:
Re: No Double Negatives!
SandRider wrote:hey, Chigger, you can come from under the bed now - the universe is back on track ....
Oh, hell, Ole Pah, I weren't under no bed, nor on one, neither, this time a day! I got to watchin' one of them there Nayshunal Gee-oh-graphic spayshuls.

Nebiros wrote:I'd rather hear profanity than the double negative.
OK.


Especially with the term 'aint'. Sure it's not a real word, but it is a slang for haven't or isn't or don't. "I aint got no money" You don't have NO money which means you HAVE money! "You aint seen nothing yet" I have not seen NOTHING yet which means I HAVE seen something.
It's not "slang", you numbnuts. It's informal and dialectal and it's perfectly FINE in those contexts. Just don't use it in no formal contexts or when writing (anything but dialog in fiction, that is). As a contraction for am not, are not, or is not it's probably originally from London dialect; and as a contraction for has not or have not it derives from dialectal hain't. It was in far more widespread use in the 18th century in both England and North America.
Don't the idiot users know that the two negatives cancel each other out?
Language ain't formal logic, dipshit. Ain't no one never told you that?


There will be no use of double negatives in my Library. I'm making it an official rule. If somebody does, they will be asked to rephrase what they said or leave.
Well fuck me with a posse of priapic papists, if you ain't just OUT-PRISSED your sissy little self!


- SandChigger
- KJASF Ground Zero
- Posts: 14492
- Joined: 08 Feb 2008 22:29
- Location: A continuing state of irritation
- Contact:
Re: No Double Negatives!
merkin muffley wrote:I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!
Welcome to the Nebbyverse! It's a whacky, good-fun ride!

EDIT: I'm going to be in West Virginia by tomorrow afternoon
Which part? On the New River, by any chance?

"Let the dead give water to the dead. As for me, it's NO MORE FUCKING TEARS!"
-
- Posts: 315
- Joined: 23 Apr 2008 01:55
- Location: Cedon
Re: No Double Negatives!
Double negatives are acceptable and fine in devolved societies. If you can't put it in writing, you should at least try not say it. Profanity should not be accepted because of how unpleasant the atmosphere becomes in a crowd. Double negatives should be discouraged because it's basically saying that you would prefer to be stupid. It's like not finding employment even though it's available.
- SandChigger
- KJASF Ground Zero
- Posts: 14492
- Joined: 08 Feb 2008 22:29
- Location: A continuing state of irritation
- Contact:
Re: No Double Negatives!
Nebiros wrote:Double negatives are acceptable and fine in devolved societies. If you can't put it in writing, you should at least try not say it. Profanity should not be accepted because of how unpleasant the atmosphere becomes in a crowd. Double negatives should be discouraged because it's basically saying that you would prefer to be stupid. It's like not finding employment even though it's available.
Your linguistic prejudices are as revealing as your fucked-in-the-head opinions about women. You are so full of shit that I can well imagine you squelch when you walk. Devolved societies? WHO & WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, you pompous jungle-dwelling IDIOT? FUCK YOU and those little orange primates your daddy raised you among. How about you just stick to Indonesian and Dutch from now on, ASSWIPE.
- inhuien
- Posts: 3633
- Joined: 09 Feb 2008 05:03
- Location: right here as in not (all) there
- merkin muffley
- Posts: 1584
- Joined: 23 Apr 2010 15:18
- Location: War Room
Re: No Double Negatives!
SandChigger wrote:Which part? On the New River, by any chance?
I'll be at a cabin a half-mile off the Potomac in three directions, near Paw Paw, for the weekend. I'm very excited.
Nebiros wrote:Double negatives are acceptable and fine in devolved societies. If you can't put it in writing, you should at least try not say it. Profanity should not be accepted because of how unpleasant the atmosphere becomes in a crowd. Double negatives should be discouraged because it's basically saying that you would prefer to be stupid. It's like not finding employment even though it's available.
Dude, that is SUCH a Librarian! That is GENIUS. "Devolved societies... how unpleasant the atmosphere becomes in a crowd... Double negatives should be discouraged... not finding employment even though it's available..." That's so fucking in character, it's like Nebiros became a great dramatist writing a monologue for himself in the play of life. I feel like I'm that dude in American Beauty and I just saw a plastic bag floating around, and I burst into tears because it's so fucking beautiful I feel like I can't take it, like my heart's going to cave in. Because the bag was dancing with me, and shit.
- lotek
- Posts: 5778
- Joined: 28 Jul 2009 08:33
Re: No Double Negatives!
Spice is the worm's gonads.
- lotek
- Posts: 5778
- Joined: 28 Jul 2009 08:33
Re: No Double Negatives!
merkin muffley wrote: I feel like I'm that dude in American Beauty and I just saw a plastic bag floating around, and I burst into tears because it's so fucking beautiful I feel like I can't take it, like my heart's going to cave in. Because the bag was dancing with me, and shit.
are you NUTS?
Mentionning American Beauty here after the damage caused by a certain photoshop???
Say it ain't so Merkin please, say it ain't so!
Spice is the worm's gonads.
- Eyes High
- Patience Personified
- Posts: 2322
- Joined: 22 Jul 2008 15:32
- Location: between the worlds of men and make believe
Re: No Double Negatives!
OKaaaayyyyy
What in the heck was that all about? Talk about coming out of the blue.
Yeah, it can be irritating sometimes, but I'm not going to go balistic over it. Plus there is a difference between using them in informal dialect and writing them down in business contents. I'm not going to be a grammar nazi (my grammar is too bad for that) as long as I can understand what the person "meant" to say I don't care how he/she says it. If I have doubt then I'll ask for clarification.
Hope you day turns out better than it seems to have started out.

Nebiros wrote:One of the most common mistakes in English grammar is a double negative. This irritates me the most of all errors in grammar because it's often an accepted mistake ...
Yeah, it can be irritating sometimes, but I'm not going to go balistic over it. Plus there is a difference between using them in informal dialect and writing them down in business contents. I'm not going to be a grammar nazi (my grammar is too bad for that) as long as I can understand what the person "meant" to say I don't care how he/she says it. If I have doubt then I'll ask for clarification.
They're songs...non't essays. Enjoy them, don't analyis.Here are some lines from songs that use the idiotic double negative:
"I don't want no one but you" "I wouldn't have nothing if I didn't have you"
I've never heard that one. Underestimate I've heard of course, but I can't recall ever hearing someone say misunderestimate.And finally there are the single word double negatives: Misunderestimate ....
Hope you day turns out better than it seems to have started out.
What fear is there in the night?
Nothing, but that which is in our own imaginations.
Nothing, but that which is in our own imaginations.
- Freakzilla
- Lead Singer and Driver of the Winnebego
- Posts: 18257
- Joined: 05 Feb 2008 01:27
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Contact:
Re: No Double Negatives!
This don't make no sense at all! 


Paul of Dune was so bad it gave me a seizure that dislocated both of my shoulders and prolapsed my anus.
~Pink Snowman
-
- Posts: 315
- Joined: 23 Apr 2008 01:55
- Location: Cedon
Re: No Double Negatives!
You guys have yet to answer if somebody misunderstood a double negative. Did you know I took a joke seriously once and it led to an awkward moment. I also took sarcasm seriously on two occasions. Double negatives could lead to the same thing.
Here I'll show you:
I ain't got no money. Give me five dollars then.
Jump in there ain't no sharks in there. You must be crazy man!
You ain't seen nothing yet. All right then, I've seen enough. Bye!
You ain't going nowhere. Exactly, I'm not staying here so obviously I'm leaving. See you later!
I don't want no one but you. There is somebody else then?
There ain't nothing in there. (I go in to see what is in there)
Now obviously I've already figured out all these. But what if I misunderstood a double negative I've never heard before in the future?
Here I'll show you:
I ain't got no money. Give me five dollars then.
Jump in there ain't no sharks in there. You must be crazy man!
You ain't seen nothing yet. All right then, I've seen enough. Bye!
You ain't going nowhere. Exactly, I'm not staying here so obviously I'm leaving. See you later!
I don't want no one but you. There is somebody else then?
There ain't nothing in there. (I go in to see what is in there)
Now obviously I've already figured out all these. But what if I misunderstood a double negative I've never heard before in the future?
- merkin muffley
- Posts: 1584
- Joined: 23 Apr 2010 15:18
- Location: War Room
Re: No Double Negatives!
What if Napoleon was a Sandworm and Wellington was an earthworm?
Last edited by merkin muffley on 06 Aug 2010 09:46, edited 1 time in total.
- Nekhrun
- Icelandic Wiener
- Posts: 3293
- Joined: 10 Feb 2008 16:27
Re: No Double Negatives!
Nebiros wrote:... what if I misunderstood a double negative I've never heard before in the future?
Then you'll add it to your list no doubt.
"If he was here to discuss Dune, he sure as hell picked a dumb way to do it." -Omphalos 
Happy Memorial Day everyone! -James C. Harwood
"Three of my videos have over 100 views."
"Over 500 views for my 'Open Question' video." -Nebiros

Happy Memorial Day everyone! -James C. Harwood
"Three of my videos have over 100 views."
"Over 500 views for my 'Open Question' video." -Nebiros
- SandChigger
- KJASF Ground Zero
- Posts: 14492
- Joined: 08 Feb 2008 22:29
- Location: A continuing state of irritation
- Contact:
Re: No Double Negatives!
Nebiros wrote:But what if I misunderstood a double negative I've never heard before in the future?
I seriously can't imagine anyone wanting or even bothering to talk to you, so you probably don't have to worry about it too much.
But just to be safe, why don't you stay in your wonderfully evolved society down there and only interact with others of your own kind?

- Eyes High
- Patience Personified
- Posts: 2322
- Joined: 22 Jul 2008 15:32
- Location: between the worlds of men and make believe
Re: No Double Negatives!
Well it has been my experience that very few people ever use double negatives to state a positive so it might be safe to assume they mean the negative. If unsure then ask. It's better to ask a simple question than to act all high and mighty and turn out to look the fool.
What fear is there in the night?
Nothing, but that which is in our own imaginations.
Nothing, but that which is in our own imaginations.
- TheDukester
- Posts: 3808
- Joined: 20 Jun 2008 13:44
- Location: Operation Enduring Bacon
- Contact:
Re: No Double Negatives!

"Anything I write will be remembered and listed in bibliographies on Dune for several hundred years ..." — some delusional halfwit troll.
-
- Posts: 1501
- Joined: 14 May 2010 14:11
- Location: Grubville
Re: No Double Negatives!
Rarely have I seen a thought so clearly defined with such an economy of words. 

Leto II is gone for good, except for OM. The "pearl" was just that; a miniscule portion of what Leto was, and not a compressed version of the whole. The pearl that the worms have do not make them Leto, or in any way similar to him.
-Omphalos
-Omphalos
- Nekhrun
- Icelandic Wiener
- Posts: 3293
- Joined: 10 Feb 2008 16:27
Re: No Double Negatives!
D Pope wrote:Rarely have I seen a thought so clearly defined with such an economy of words.
You're talking about Nebiros right?
"If he was here to discuss Dune, he sure as hell picked a dumb way to do it." -Omphalos 
Happy Memorial Day everyone! -James C. Harwood
"Three of my videos have over 100 views."
"Over 500 views for my 'Open Question' video." -Nebiros

Happy Memorial Day everyone! -James C. Harwood
"Three of my videos have over 100 views."
"Over 500 views for my 'Open Question' video." -Nebiros
- merkin muffley
- Posts: 1584
- Joined: 23 Apr 2010 15:18
- Location: War Room
Re: No Double Negatives!
Nebiros wrote:Jump in there ain't no sharks in there. You must be crazy man!
Hay! Nebby Youngman? Take my wife... PLEASE. I take my wife everywhere but she finds her way home.
But what if I misunderstood a double negative I've never heard before in the future?
If you misunderstood a double negative you've never heard? You degenerate, devolved, SLUT.
-
- Posts: 1501
- Joined: 14 May 2010 14:11
- Location: Grubville
Re: No Double Negatives!
Nekhrun wrote:D Pope wrote:Rarely have I seen a thought so clearly defined with such an economy of words.
You're talking about Nebiros right?
I wanted to compliment the Dukester.
Nebiros, eh, I hate it when I stub my toe, doubt i'll start a thread about it.
Leto II is gone for good, except for OM. The "pearl" was just that; a miniscule portion of what Leto was, and not a compressed version of the whole. The pearl that the worms have do not make them Leto, or in any way similar to him.
-Omphalos
-Omphalos
- lotek
- Posts: 5778
- Joined: 28 Jul 2009 08:33
Re: No Double Negatives!
D Pope wrote:Rarely have I seen a thought so clearly defined with such an economy of words.
Neither have I


EDIT Image resized
Access Denied (content_filter_denied)
Your request was denied because of its content categorization: "***_Blocked;Online Storage"
For assistance, please contact the local IT Service Desk. Please use this link to provide helpful information to the IT team.
Spice is the worm's gonads.