"Double" in Countable

Question

Hi,I can't decided which of these is the correct one (I hope someone can help me on this):- I've made double-mistakes.- I've made a double-mistake.Thanks in advance ^_^

Avangi · Accepted Answer

Are you thinking of some special type of mistake which works like a double-edged sword? Perhaps two mistakes in the same example? Or do you simply mean that you've made twice as many mistakes as you should have?

If a "double-mistake" is a special type of (a) mistake, then it should be possible to make two of those. "I've made a double mistake." "I've made three double-mistakes."

- A.

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks for responding my post Avangi.

Hmm...so, the two of them could be correct then.

“ Or do you simply mean that you've made twice as many mistakes as you should have?” --> I'm not sure what you mean here. Do you mean the SAME mistake that done twice?

(Btw, out of topic: I use the word “mean” in the previous sentences in present tense. Is this right? Should it be in the past tense, so it would be like “DID you mean the same mistake that done twice?)

“Perhaps two mistakes in the same example?” --> More or less, it was what I had in mind. There were two mistakes with different nature in the same example. So by that, the correct one should be “I've made a double-mistake”?

ELL ^o^

Avangi · Answer

Yes, according to your definition, I would say it would be possible to make one double-mistake and it would be possible to make several double-mistakes (on the same test).

I had not heard the expression before, so I wasn't sure what you meant. That's why I asked if you were thinking of "twice as many mistakes" as might be "reasonable," referring to the total number of mistakes on the exam.

I should think the usefulness of the "double-mistake" concept might depend on how the exam is scored. In some cases, each example is worth a certain number of points, and the example is either correct or incorrect. So you wouldn't be penalized for a "double-mistake." In other cases, it might be possible to make several different mistakes within the same example, and have each one count against you. Three mistakes in one example would count the same as one mistake in each of three examples.

About the tense thing, I'd say in this sort of discussion, either way is acceptable. "This is why I ask if you mean XYZ." This is why I asked if you meant XYZ."

Don't forget that with questions the tense is handled by the auxilliary verb "to do," and the main verb is shown as the bare infinitive. "What do you mean?" "What did you mean?"

About the word "double" in countable usage, I probably wouldn't use the hyphen. Regarding singular or plural, double is simply used as an adjective. It's like a three-lane highway. It's only one highway. And we don't say it's a three-lanes highway.

I don't know if you watch freight trains. Sometimes two locomotives (engines) are coupled together to pull a large train. But we don't say "They are double locomotives." We say "The train is pulled by a double locomotive." (singular) It depends a lot on the convention which has grown up around a certain usage. In the case of "tractor-trailer trucks," or "tractors pulling semi-trailers," we often have a tractor pulling two trailers. The driver would say he's "pulling a set of doubles." (one set - set is singular)

- A.

"Double" in Countable

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