What is a Double Negative?

What is a Double Negative?

A double negative is a sentence with a negative meaning that includes two negative words. They are very common in colloquial dialects and song lyrics, but they are often considered either incorrect or “improper” grammatically and syntactically. Let’s look at some of pop culture’s most common double negatives:

• Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone – “Ain’t No Sunshine,” Bill Withers
• I can’t get no satisfaction – “Satisfaction,” The Rolling Stones
• We don’t need no education – “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2,” Pink Floyd

While each of the above examples are easily understood, a real stickler of a teacher or editor might fight to correct these famous double negatives. Buy why?

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What Do We Mean by “Negative”?

A negative word is one that conveys a negative meaning—think “no,” “none,” “not” and so on. When two negative words appear in the same sentence, they may change the sentence’s intended meaning or confuse an audience.

When looking for double negatives, start with verbs. Double negatives often appear when a negative verb form (“do not,” “cannot”) is paired with a negative form of another word in a sentence:

• Negative adverb: “never”
• Negative conjunction: “neither,” “nor”
• Negative noun or noun phrase: “no lies”
• Negative pronoun: “no one,” “nothing”

Is a Double Negative Always a Mistake?

It’s not always a mistake when a double negative appears in a sentence, but this distinction relies on the intention of the writer as well as the audience’s understanding.

For example, the Bill Withers song lyric, “Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone,” is technically an error; logically, that sentence reads that there is no lack of sunshine when the woman in question is gone, even though Wither’s intended meaning is his world is dark without this woman. However, listeners understand what Withers means by these words and aren’t themselves confused.

Tough, right? Now consider this: Double negatives can be used on purpose by those who wish to express something negative in a gentle, politic way: “He is not without his charms.” This is a common use of double negatives—and completely correct.

So what’s to be done about the double negative? Nothing, if it makes sense in your sentence and conveys your intended meaning. That ain’t not bad.