[LarryLied]

Double negatives have a long and illustrious history in English also. Shakespeare used them. Then some got the erroneous idea that language is math and two no's equal a yes. That sterile attitude robbed the language of much of its richness.

[newgeezer]

That sterile attitude robbed the language of much of its richness.

Uh-huh. Lysol robs a San Francisco public turlet of much of its richness, too.

:-D

[twigs]

Thank you for explaining this misunderstood fact in the development of English. I always liked using the double negative, at least in certain ways. Then when I learned that it played a significant role in the development of the English language, a most remarkable language IMO, I have valued its use all the more!