Two negatives destroy one another, and are generally equivalent to an
affirmative; as, "Such things are _not un_common;" i.e. they are common.
NOTE. When one of the two negatives employed is joined to another
word, it forms a pleasing and delicate variety of expression; as,
"His language, though inelegant, is _not un_grammatical;" that is,
it is grammatical.
But, as two negatives, by destroying each other, are equivalent to
an affirmative, they should not be used when we wish to convey a
_negative_ meaning. The following sentence is therefore inaccurate:
"I can_not_ by _no_ means allow him what his argument must prove."
It should be, "I cannot by _any_ means," &c., or, "I _can_ by _no_
means."
FALSE SYNTAX.
_Note, 2d part_. I don't know nothing about it.
I did not see nobody there. Nothing never affects her.
Be honest, nor take no shape nor semblance of disguise.
There cannot be nothing more insignificant than vanity.
Precept nor discipline is not so forcible as example.
RULE XXXI.
Prepositions govern the objective case; as, "He went _from_ Utica _to_
Rome, and then passed _through_ Redfield.
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