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Please help settle an argument...

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markdil
 
Reply Tue 2 Sep, 2014 07:24 am
I am in disagreement with both my girlfriend and coworker. I made this statement: "They don't call me a genius for nothing." Both pointed out I used a double negative and it was improper grammar. Is it? If it is, how would I reword the sentence? Thanks!
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Type: Question • Score: 4 • Views: 354 • Replies: 4
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Lordyaswas
 
  2  
Reply Tue 2 Sep, 2014 07:37 am
@markdil,
It's perfectly fine to me. The double negative is intended.

They do call me a genius for nothing implies that your title of genius is undeserved. Don't implies the opposite.
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Setanta
 
  1  
Reply Tue 2 Sep, 2014 08:01 am
It is also worth noting that there is only only one negative in the verb. "They don't call me . . . "
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Lustig Andrei
 
  1  
Reply Tue 2 Sep, 2014 12:09 pm
Absolutely nothing wrong with that statement.
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contrex
 
  1  
Reply Tue 2 Sep, 2014 01:13 pm
@markdil,
markdil wrote:

I am in disagreement with both my girlfriend and coworker. I made this statement: "They don't call me a genius for nothing." Both pointed out I used a double negative and it was improper grammar. Is it? If it is, how would I reword the sentence? Thanks!


Your girlfriend and coworker are both incorrect.

Double negatives are perfectly acceptable if they are correctly used.

"They don't call me a genius for nothing (=for no reason)" can be turned into a positive statement with the same meaning by removing both negatives

They call me a genius for a reason.


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