Ever or Never

[Tdol]

Only if the speaker were an RP speaker going weird.

[Lib]

So, do you think it's correct English?

[Tdol]

The double negative? I don't mind it at all, but I would not teach it and advise against its use because most exams will simply mark it wrong.

[Will]

I heard one time that Shakespeare used many double negatives in his writing. Is this true?

[Tdol]

He did-
http://www.bartleby.com/185/45.html

[RonBee]

The double negative has a long and interesting history. From the article: "It is perfectly allowable in the Romance languages...." Apparently, if a French speaker utters a double negative it is perfectly unremarkable.

:wink:

[Tdol]

It's so common in London that I would rarely notice it when listening, unless the speaker were a standard English speaker

[Will]

That article was interesting. And where I live you can't talk to anyone, it seems like, without their uttering many double negatives.

[Tdol]

It seems to be something that has always been around and widely used. The aristocracy here also used them. The criticism was a middle class convention.

[Plenum]

Both are correct... and use depends on which type of statement, negative or positive, you find correct in the situation you find yourself in.

There's nothing to vote for or against.