Double Negatives

A double negative is a non-standard sentence or phrase that contains two negative words.

a negative verb, e.g. did not, was not, do not, have not, cannot

a negative adverb, e.g. no, not, never, hardly, rarely

a negative pronoun, e.g. no one, nobody, nothing

Sentences with double negatives are not grammatically correct . . . and they’re confusing. That’s because double negatives cancel each other out and make a positive. So, when you use a double negative it ends up being the exact opposite of what you mean. You’ll write a stronger sentence when you put statements in a positive form.

Most people don't have no clue.

Bigfoot hasn't never been spotted.

His tracks don’t look like no fake

tracks they have seen.

Scientists say they don’t think

there’s nothing fake about Bigfoot.

They haven't never looked that real though.