Pierre, it's actually very simple - or at least it should be to someone who studies the 'cultural production of literature' and has read the most obscure plays of Tennyson.
What we understand as a double negative is in short an error. "I haven't done nothing wrong" - where the person should correctly be saying "I haven't done anything wrong". It's a common error among certain classes.
'Not for nothing' is NOT what we would usually call a double negative because it is not an error. Indeed, it is rarely used by the sort of person who would make the error of using a double negative. It is an accepted and oft-used phrase. It has a touch of poetry about it.
* Double negatives are usually errors of grammar.
* 'Not for nothing' is more often used by the educated and is not described as a double negative because it is not an error.
* 'Not for nothing' has nothing to do with the Whitechapel Murders.
It really couldn't be any clearer.
If you don't understand THAT, you shouldn't be on the boards, you should go play somewhere more suited to your level.
What we understand as a double negative is in short an error. "I haven't done nothing wrong" - where the person should correctly be saying "I haven't done anything wrong". It's a common error among certain classes.
'Not for nothing' is NOT what we would usually call a double negative because it is not an error. Indeed, it is rarely used by the sort of person who would make the error of using a double negative. It is an accepted and oft-used phrase. It has a touch of poetry about it.
* Double negatives are usually errors of grammar.
* 'Not for nothing' is more often used by the educated and is not described as a double negative because it is not an error.
* 'Not for nothing' has nothing to do with the Whitechapel Murders.
It really couldn't be any clearer.
If you don't understand THAT, you shouldn't be on the boards, you should go play somewhere more suited to your level.
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