Double negatives occur when two negative words appear in the same clause. This explanation covers what double negatives are, the difference between standard and nonstandard use, and tips for using negatives correctly in English.
What Double Negatives Are
Double negatives use two negative words in the same sentence or clause, such as "not," "never," "no," "nobody," "nothing," "nowhere," or negative prefixes like "un-" and "dis-."
- Double negatives involve two negative elements in one clause.
- They can appear with negative pronouns (nobody, nothing), adverbs (never, nowhere), or words like "not" and "no."
- In many languages, double negatives intensify the negation, but in standard English, their effect depends on usage.
Standard Double Negatives
In standard English grammar, only one negative word carries the negation; additional negatives are part of fixed expressions or appear across clauses, not within the same clause. When two negatives appear in the same clause, they usually cancel each other out and create a positive meaning — so standard English avoids this.
- In standard English, two negatives in one clause usually make a positive.
- Standard grammar allows negatives across clauses, as long as each clause is logically negated.
- Examples like "I don't know nobody" are nonstandard because two negatives appear in the same clause.
In standard English, what happens when two negatives appear in the same clause?
They usually cancel each other out and create a positive meaning.
Standard English rules say two negatives in the same clause cancel out, so the sentence ends up with a positive meaning.
Nonstandard Double Negatives
Many English dialects and informal speech use double negatives for emphasis or intensity. These are called nonstandard because they don't follow standard rules and can be confusing in formal writing.
- Nonstandard double negatives are common in some dialects (e.g., African American Vernacular English, Cockney, Appalachian English).
- They often intensify the negative meaning rather than cancel each other.
- Examples: "I ain't got no money," "She don't want nothing," "Nobody don't like that."
Guidelines for Usage
To avoid confusion or errors—especially in formal contexts—use only one negative word per clause, or use negative words in different clauses with clear scope.
- Use one negative word per clause in writing and formal speech.
- If you need emphasis, use adverbs like "at all," "really," or "never" instead of adding another negative.
- When two negatives appear in different clauses, make sure each clause is negated correctly, as in "I didn't say nothing" (nonstandard) vs. "I didn't say anything" (standard).
If you want to emphasize a negative meaning without a double negative, what can you do?
Add adverbs like 'at all,' 'really,' or 'never.'
Using adverbs such as 'at all' or 'really' strengthens negation without breaking the single-negative rule.
Examples
Here are some examples to illustrate correct and incorrect usage.
- Standard: "I don't know anything." (One negative: don't, plus indefinite pronoun anything)
- Nonstandard: "I don't know nothing." (Two negatives: don't + nothing, used for emphasis)
- Standard: "Nobody came to the party." (Single negative pronoun nobody)
- Nonstandard: "Ain't nobody coming." (Two negatives: ain't + nobody)
- Standard: "She can't go anywhere." (Negative verb can't + indefinite pronoun anywhere)
- Nonstandard: "She can't go nowhere." (Two negatives: can't + nowhere)
Summary
- Double negatives use two negative words in the same clause.
- In standard English, two negatives in one clause cancel out and create a positive, so only one negative is used.
- In nonstandard English dialects, double negatives intensify the negative meaning but are informal.
- For clear and correct communication, especially in writing, use one negative per clause and avoid double negatives.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
