Don’t know

nothing about
DOUBLE-
NEGATIVES
A quick grammar lesson to help
with SENTENCE CLARITY.
 WHAT IS A
DOUBLE-NEGATIVE?
 A double-negative occurs when a
sentence has two negative words
that cancel each other out and, as a
result, causes confusion and creates
a problem with the CLARITY of the
sentence.
 EXAMPLES OF
DOUBLE-NEGATIVES
 INCORRECT  CORRECT

I want pizza.
I don’t want no pizza.

I couldn’t hardly talk. I could hardly talk.

I don’t have no money. I don’t have any money.

She didn’t spend but two dollars.
She spent only two
dollars.
 Double-Negatives
cause confusion…
 When you have two negative words in the
same sentence, you actually end up
saying the OPPOSITE of what you mean to
say.

 For example, if you say “I don’t have no

money,” the DON’T and NO cancel each
other out and become a POSITIVE.
Therefore, the sentence “I don’t have no
money” actually becomes a positive
statement that means “I have money.”
BE CLEAR WITH YOUR
MEANING……
 To avoid confusion and
make your sentences as
clear as possible, AVOID
USING DOUBLE-NEGATIVES
in your sentences.
HERE ARE SOME RULES TO
KEEP IN MIND…..
 1.Double
negatives are
nonstandard.
Avoid two
negative words
in the same
clause.
DOUBLE-NEGATIVES:
RULE 2
 2. Do not use but in
a negative sense
with another
negative.

 Incorrect: He didn't
want but one good
grade.
 Correct: He wanted
but one good grade.
 Correct: He wanted
only one good
grade.
DOUBLE-NEGATIVES:
RULE 3
 3. Words like barely, hardly, and
scarcely have a negative sense
and should not be used with
another negative. In effect, this
creates a double negative.

 Incorrect: He couldn't hardly speak.

 Correct: He could hardly speak.

 Incorrect: We were not barely able to

see the stage.

 Correct: We were barely able to see

the stage.
Final Thoughts about
Double Negatives…..

 Just remember that using

double negatives in your
sentences creates confusion
and messes up the CLARITY
of your intended meaning.
Therefore, AVOID using
double negatives in your
writing. Also, know how to
correct double negatives when
you see them.
 Now it’s time to practice.
Rewrite each sentence below to help improve the
CLARITY of each sentence.

1. We don’t need no education.

2. I can’t hardly stay awake.
3. We don’t need none.
4. She don’t want to go no where.
5. I barely got no sleep last night.
6. It was so hot that I couldn’t hardly breathe.
7. I ain’t gonna take nothing from nobody.
8. He didn’t want but one small kiss from her.
 Here are the corrections….
 1. We don’t need ANY education.
 OR
 1. We need NO education.

 2. I can’t stay awake.

 OR
 2. I can hardly stay awake.

 3. We don’t need ANY.

 OR
 3. We need NONE.
 More corrections…..
 4. She doesn’t want to go ANY where.
 OR
 She wants to go no where.

 5. I barely got ANY sleep last night.

 OR
 I got no sleep last night.

 6. It was so hot that I couldn’t breathe.

 OR
 It was so hot that I could hardly breathe.
 And finally………

7. I am not going to take ANYTHING from

ANYBODY.

8. He wanted one small kiss from her.