A Double Negative Is Not Always UnOK

A Double Negative Is Not Always UnOK A Double Negative Is Not Always UnOK A Double Negative Is Not Always UnOK By Maeve Maddox The grammatical rule against double negatives applies to sentences that combine not with no or with other negatives such as hardly, nobody, nothing, never, and nowhere: I can’t hardly see through these glasses. He didn’t meet nobody on the mountain. They never lied about nothing. On the other hand, double negatives formed with not followed by a word that begins with a negative prefix like un- or ir- are permissible in formal English. This type of double negative is a stylistic device of understatement, a type of litotes: a figure of speech in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of the contrary. Its use can convey a subtle difference in meaning that saying the same thing without not wouldn’t. Some speakers who object to the â€Å"not un-† construction seem to believe that there’s a rule against it. This belief is bolstered by the often quoted example made up by George Orwell: The not unblack dog chased the not unbrown cow across the not ungreen field. Orwell’s sentence is amusing, but simplistic. No English speaker is going to try to plant an un- on adjectives like black and green. Many English speakers, however, will use the â€Å"not un-† construction to achieve a nuanced meaning with adjectives like justifiable, intelligent, and convinced. The following statements are not identical in meaning: I am convinced by his argument. I am not unconvinced by his argument. A note at the online Oxford Dictionaries site points out the difference: The use of  not  together with unconvinced suggests that the speaker has a few mental reservations about the argument. Writing in 1926, H. W. Fowler (Modern English Usage) regarded the â€Å"not un-† usage as â€Å"a faded or jaded elegance.† He condemns the unnecessary use of the construction, but recognizes that this form of litotes is â€Å"congenial to the English temperament† and that there are contexts in which its use is suitable. He concludes, â€Å"The right principle is to acknowledge that the idiom is allowable, and then to avoid it except when it is more than allowable.† The construction is often used unnecessarily, but sometimes it expresses a thought in a way that the positive form would not. The following examples are probably â€Å"allowable† uses: Arthur Ransome’s book is a  not unsuccessful  attempt to provide an introduction to the criticism of types of fiction.   - The reviewer does not like the book, but acknowledges that some readers may learn something from it. Sabina Franklyn is a sweet, pretty Jane,  not unintelligent but  less of a presence than her lively sister. - The character Jane is not a stupid person, but her intelligence is not a key feature of her personality the way it is for her sister. A  musty but not unpleasant  odor came from inside, together with a blast of pent-up heat. - The odor cannot be described as pleasant, but it is not repugnant either. However, the â€Å"not un† construction is frequently used without justification, as in the following examples: Surprises will come to be outnumbered by cringes, as the not unappealing Patton finds herself sold short by a director. - In the context of the review, there’s nothing to suggest that Patton is anything but appealing. While not unentertaining, there is very little of this film that is astounding.   - In the context of the article, the reviewer seems to feel that the film is entertaining. Some reviewers, perhaps not quite understanding the device, go all to pieces in their attempts to make use of it: Jessica Biel is  not unconvincing  as a love interest,  but  shes  not  entirely convincing.   But theres something uniquely dis-appealing about Don Jon. Not unappealing, not immediately repulsive. More like simply not-appealing. The â€Å"not un-† construction has a long history in English and remains a valid stylistic choice for writers who understand how and when to use it. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Yours faithfully or Yours sincerely?Select vs. SelectedHow Do You Fare?

Small Boat Cooling System Operation and Maintenance

Small Boat Cooling System Operation and Maintenance There are two common engine cooling schemes in small vessels. Raw water cooling circulates seawater through the engine block directly, while closed loop cooling utilizes a heat exchanger to isolate the engine coolant from seawater which carries the excess heat out of a vessel. Both systems have similar components and operation. The more complex of the two systems is actually two simple cooling loops in series. The concepts are easy to understand and so are the fixes to common problems. Raw Water or Open Cooling We will follow the path of the water from the sea into the intake which is fitted with a valve called a seacock to close the opening if a coolant line fails. These connections are large and will put several hundred gallons per minute into your hull if they fail. The cooling water passes through a strainer which should be checked each day. Emptying this little basket of garbage is very important since it will impede the flow to the engine which could cause damage. Expensive damage. Next the seawater travels through a hard piped line or sometimes flexible hose to the cold side of the engine cooling system. Any soft lines should be secured with double band clamps on each connection, they should be checked very often for failure or wear. On its journey through the engine the cool sea water absorbs heat by passing through small channels cast into the engine components. These channels give plenty of surface area where heat can be absorbed but they do have drawbacks like clogging and freezing in cold weather. As the seawater exits it passes though a thermostat which can be a automotive spring type device or a sensor connected to a automatic gate valve. If the water is below the ideal temperature threshold for the engine cooling water by passes the engine until heat removal is required. A cold running engine is bad for the machinery and the efficiency of an engine. The cooling water and exhaust gasses are combined in a wet exhaust system where they exit the vessel. If exhaust is aerial then cooling water passes through another seacock to exit the hull. Closed Loop Cooling This type of cooling is very similar to raw water cooling except in place of an engine theres a heat exchanger. Basically a tube within a tube that transfers heat without allowing liquids to mix. The coolant circulates on the engine side while raw seawater circulates on the heat exchanger side. Other than this important point all operations are similar. Pros and Cons of Open and Closed Systems Open Pros: simple and well known, no chemicals, if hard piped the only maintenance is cleaning the strainer. Cons: Prone to clogging with debris, pure water allowed to freeze in engine passages will crack the engine block, in some environments the inside of the system can become home to mussels and barnacles. Closed Pros: Much less time to bring a engine to a stable operating temperature, less temperature fluctuation increases fuel and power efficiency, winterizing tasks and cold damage are minimized, if a clog appears it will be in the heat exchanger side which can be easily serviced; a clog in an engine passage requires disassembly excess heat can be used for space heating. Cons: Marine coolant is expensive and many systems have a high capacity, potential to leak coolant into the surrounding water, additional anodes must be placed and monitored for signs of corrosion. Whats the Best Marine Cooling System? The answer depends on you location and operations. Fouling and clogs are the biggest issue for most operators and local knowledge works best for these situations. If you must choose one type of system over another and everything else seems equal, then take a look at the anti-fouling paint used in your area. If it is meant to aggressively prohibit growth of marine life, then you should consider a closed system to reduce the risk of damage. How to Flush Your Work Boat Cooling System While there are a couple thousand large ships in the global merchant fleet, there are perhaps a couple hundred thousand smaller work boats. Operators of these boats are often also owners and to keep costs down some go without professional maintenance services. If you choose this approach it will save money, although it does increase the risk of damage due to human error. Working carefully and understanding some of the underlying concepts of you equipment will assure the job is done correctly while still saving money. Many of us have entered this profession through the world of small boats. Those long days spent at the marina washing recreational boats for extra spending money turned into more complex jobs. Soon, those little electrical and plumbing jobs earned a few dollars, and hopefully a good reputation. Then one day, while crammed under the helm station of a ship, the thought crosses your mind; how did I get here? Formal education  is available for these jobs and many excellent schools will give you a comprehensive understanding of the systems of any size vessel.