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Guest Posted 22 years ago
Grammar

Is this sentence usage correct??

Hi,

My friend in one of his mails has written the following sentence

" I am not the least nervous in presentations"
Actually His intention is to convey that he is not at all/least nervous while he gives presentation.
But I found that sentence to be a bit ambiguous,because he used two negative sensed
words like 'NOT' and 'Least' at the same time,which makes the whole sense of the sentence
becomes a positive one,finally sending out the meaning like "He is very nervous in his presentations"

Please let me know if the above usage is correct,and please justify why its correct if it is fine.

Thanks
Sriram,B
  

Top answer

'Least' I would not consider negative: 'she weighs the least of the three fat girlfriends'. However, in your example, the more common phrase is 'in the least' or 'the least bit': I am not in the least nervous in presentations. I am not the least bit nervous in presentations.

— Mister Micawber

  • 'Least' I would not consider negative: 'she weighs the least of the three fat girlfriends'.
  • However, in your example, the more common phrase is 'in the least' or 'the least bit': I am not in the least nervous in presentations.
  • I am not the least bit nervous in presentations.
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2 Answers
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'Least' I would not consider negative: 'she weighs the least of the three fat girlfriends'. However, in your example, the more common phrase is 'in the least' or 'the least bit':

I am not in the least nervous in presentations.
I am not the least bit nervous in presentations.
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I've never heard that expression without the word "bit" !

I'm not the least bit [adjective] ..., meaning "I'm not at all [adjective], not even a little (bit [adjective])

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