Can you use the word not twice in the same sentence?

Answer 1

It is not a grammatical problem to use the same work twice (or more) in a sentence. However, it is often poor style and can be more difficult to read.

For example:

"Of all the books I read this month, the book by John Smith was the best economics book."

There are no grammar violations in using the word book three times. However, a more pleasing version is as follows:

"Of all the books I read this month, the one by John Smith was the best economics text."

Answer 2

Yes, there are many examples of sentences that use the same word twice in a row. In some cases, the two occurrences may be punctuated differently, and in other cases, the words may look identical but be pronounced differently or have different meanings. There are also examples in which the exact same word is used twice in a row with no intervening punctuation. The following are some sample sentences:

• I had had a bit too much to drink that night.
• She knew immediately that that was the wrong thing to say.
• It depends on what the meaning of "is" is.
• There were plenty of right-handed ladles, but there was only one left left.
• They came from a land that was far, far away.
• How long will a sturdy last last?

Answer 3

It is not impossible to use the word not twice in the same sentence, and this sentence serves as an example of that. However, in most cases, it works better if you use it not more than once. Many people do not realize what they are actually saying, when they use a double negative. For example, I don't have any pickles is a negative statement, but if you say I don't have no pickles that logically means that you do have pickles; the two negatives cancel each other. If you don't have no pickles, that is the opposite of saying that you do have no pickles, right? So beware the double negative.