📚 What is a Double Negative?
A double negative occurs when you use two negative words in the same clause. In standard English, this is considered incorrect because the two negatives can cancel each other out or create confusion.
❌ I don't want nothing. (double negative - incorrect)
✓ I don't want anything. (correct)
✓ I want nothing. (correct)
🎯 Common Negative Words
These words are all negatives. Don't use two of them together!
- not, n't (isn't, don't, won't, can't, etc.)
- no, none, nobody, no one, nothing, nowhere
- never
- hardly, barely, scarcely
- neither
⚠️ Common Double Negative Mistakes
1. Not + Nothing/Nobody/Nowhere
❌ I don't have nothing to say.
✓ I don't have anything to say.
✓ I have nothing to say.
❌ She didn't see nobody.
✓ She didn't see anybody.
✓ She saw nobody.
❌ We can't go nowhere.
✓ We can't go anywhere.
✓ We can go nowhere.
2. Not + Never
❌ I don't never eat vegetables.
✓ I never eat vegetables.
✓ I don't ever eat vegetables.
❌ She won't never forgive me.
✓ She will never forgive me.
✓ She won't ever forgive me.
3. Not + No/None
❌ There isn't no milk left.
✓ There is no milk left.
✓ There isn't any milk left.
❌ I don't have no money.
✓ I have no money.
✓ I don't have any money.
4. Not + Hardly/Barely/Scarcely
Hardly, barely, and scarcely are already negative in meaning!
❌ I can't hardly see.
✓ I can hardly see.
✓ I can't see very well.
❌ She doesn't barely know him.
✓ She barely knows him.
5. Not + Neither
❌ I don't like neither option.
✓ I don't like either option.
✓ I like neither option.
✅ How to Fix Double Negatives
Strategy 1: Remove One Negative
❌ I don't want nothing.
✓ I want nothing. (keep "nothing")
✓ I don't want anything. (keep "don't")
Strategy 2: Change Negative Words to Positive
nothing → anything
nobody/no one → anybody/anyone
nowhere → anywhere
never → ever
no → any
neither → either
Before and After Examples
❌ I didn't do nothing wrong.
✓ I didn't do anything wrong.
❌ She never goes nowhere.
✓ She never goes anywhere.
❌ We don't have no homework.
✓ We don't have any homework.
❌ Nobody didn't come to the party.
✓ Nobody came to the party.
❌ I can't barely hear you.
✓ I can barely hear you.
💡 Special Cases
When Double Negatives ARE Allowed
In some cases, double negatives create a subtle positive meaning (literary/formal use)
"I am not unhappy" = I am somewhat happy (understated positive)
"It is not uncommon" = It happens fairly often
"That is not unimportant" = That is actually quite important
These are intentional for effect, using prefixes like un-, in-, non-
Formal Negation with "Neither"
✓ I don't like coffee, and I don't like tea either.
✓ I don't like coffee, nor do I like tea.
✓ I like neither coffee nor tea.
✏️ Practice Exercise
Fix the double negatives. Click to reveal!
1. I don't need nothing from the store.
✓ I don't need anything from the store.
✓ I need nothing from the store.
2. She doesn't never call me.
✓ She never calls me.
✓ She doesn't ever call me.
3. We can't find our keys nowhere.
✓ We can't find our keys anywhere.
✓ We can find our keys nowhere.
4. I can't hardly wait for summer!
✓ I can hardly wait for summer!
5. There isn't no more pizza left.
✓ There is no more pizza left.
✓ There isn't any more pizza left.
6. Nobody didn't come to help.
✓ Nobody came to help.
🎯 Key Takeaways
- Don't use two negative words in the same clause
- Negative words include: not, no, never, nothing, nobody, nowhere, hardly, barely, scarcely, neither
- To fix: remove one negative OR change to positive form
- Change patterns: nothing→anything, nobody→anybody, nowhere→anywhere, never→ever, neither→either
- Hardly, barely, scarcely are already negative - don't use with "not"
- In formal English, intentional double negatives with prefixes (not unhappy) create subtle meaning
- Remember: One negative per clause!