Write Right - Defence Academy of the United Kingdom

Double troubleSome word combinations just seem wrong. If you are able to spot thesecombinations easily, so much the better. If you can’t then watch out forthe following:Double superlativesWrong: My schooldays were the most happiest days of my life.Right: My schooldays were the happiest days of my life.Double comparativesWrong: I was more happier then than at any time since.Right: I was happier then than at any time since.Double past tensesWrong: I would have liked to have gone.Right: I would have liked to go.Double negativesWrong: I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't start to rain.Right: I wouldn't be surprised if it started to rain.A linguistics professor was lecturing to his class one day.‘In English,’ he said, ‘A double negative forms a positive. In somelanguages, though, such as Russian, a double negative is still anegative. However, there is no language wherein a double positive canform a negative.’A voice from the back of the room piped up, ‘Yeah, right.’34