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Sextus Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
Is not A B? or Is A not B?
I've written a paper and used the following title: "Is Contemporary Ethical Skepticism not Essentially Local?"
I don't know why, but it didn't occurred to me that I should say "Is not Contemporary Ethical Skepticism Essentially Local?"
What's the difference between them? Is just a matter of emphasis?
Sextus
I don't know why, but it didn't occurred to me that I should say "Is not Contemporary Ethical Skepticism Essentially Local?"
What's the difference between them? Is just a matter of emphasis?
Sextus
Top answer
Hi, Is Contemporary Ethical Skepticism not Essentially Local? This would be the normal, common way to say this. It's a fairly neutral question, in that I don't know what the writer's opinon is going to be.
- Hi, Is Contemporary Ethical Skepticism not Essentially Local?
- This would be the normal, common way to say this.
- It's a fairly neutral question, in that I don't know what the writer's opinon is going to be.
- Is not Contemporary Ethical Skepticism Essentially Local?
- 'Not' in this position makes the sentence seem much more literary, and more old-fashioned.
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21 Answers
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Hi,
Is Contemporary Ethical Skepticism not Essentially Local?This would be the normal, common way to say this. It's a fairly neutral question, in that I don't know what the writer's opinon is going to be.
Is not Contemporary Ethical Skepticism Essentially Local? 'Not' in this position makes the sentence seem much more lit
Is Contemporary Ethical Skepticism not Essentially Local?This would be the normal, common way to say this. It's a fairly neutral question, in that I don't know what the writer's opinon is going to be.
Is not Contemporary Ethical Skepticism Essentially Local? 'Not' in this position makes the sentence seem much more lit
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Hello Sextus
In the days of Old and Middle English, a question is made by subject-verb inversion:
John went to London. ---> (*) Went John to London?
In Modern English, do-support is used to make a question in most cases:
John went to London. ---> Did John go to London?
The exception is the case when "be" is
In the days of Old and Middle English, a question is made by subject-verb inversion:
John went to London. ---> (*) Went John to London?
In Modern English, do-support is used to make a question in most cases:
John went to London. ---> Did John go to London?
The exception is the case when "be" is
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Many thanks for your message, Paco. Yes, it was the fact that one asks "Isn't John a student?" that made me wonder about the position of "not".
Sextus
Sextus
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CliveHi,
Is Contemporary Ethical Skepticism not Essentially Local?This would be the normal, common way to say this. It's a fairly neutral question, in that I don't know what the writer's opinon is going to be.
Is not Contemporary Ethical Skepticism Essentially Local? 'Not' in this position makes
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Hi,
... though I didn't know one could capitalize this word in a title.
Generally speaking, there are two approaches to titles. You can either capitalize every word, or just capitalize the important ones (nouns, verbs, etc. The former is easier.
A History Of The English-Speaking Peoples or A
... though I didn't know one could capitalize this word in a title.
Generally speaking, there are two approaches to titles. You can either capitalize every word, or just capitalize the important ones (nouns, verbs, etc. The former is easier.
A History Of The English-Speaking Peoples or A
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An alternative:
"Contemporary Ethical Skepticism: Essentially Local?"
MrP
"Contemporary Ethical Skepticism: Essentially Local?"
MrP
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Hi MrP,
Yes, that's a very nice alternative. Mine derives from the fact that the guy against whom I'm arguing wrote a paper entitled "Is Modern Moral Scepticism Essentially Local?" So I'm trying to play with this.
Sextus
Yes, that's a very nice alternative. Mine derives from the fact that the guy against whom I'm arguing wrote a paper entitled "Is Modern Moral Scepticism Essentially Local?" So I'm trying to play with this.
Sextus
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1) Is John not a student?
2) Isn't John a student?
Then which do people use more? - #1 or #2
2) Isn't John a student?
Then which do people use more? - #1 or #2
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Thank you, Clive, for your valuable answer. 
1) Is John not a student?
2) Isn't John a student?
I'd also like to know wh
1) Is John not a student?
2) Isn't John a student?
I'd also like to know wh
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