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The "not un" has a long history of debate amongst stylists. I believe it's easily overused because it has certain air of erudition about it. However, sometimes
by justnotworthit 6y ago
The "not un" has a long history of debate amongst stylists. I believe it's easily overused because it has certain air of erudition about it. However, sometimes "not un" is straightforward and clearer than the alternatives. In this context... well.. science journals have their own English journalese that lives outside general usage.
- mekoka 6y agoThe double negative has its use beyond language sophistication. It can serve to more specifically mark a neutral stance in a vocabulary that may seem to only offer a dichotomy. e.g. what I have available is I like her and I don't like her, but what I mean to say is I don't dislike her.
- drcongo 6y agoThat example sentence is a perfect usage of an English double negative, the only thing missing is the emphasis which should be on "dis" - if spoken without the emphasis it becomes simply a statement on not disliking someone without the hint that one also definitely doesn't _like_ the person.