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Guest Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
Please help! both not vs. not both
Which is the correct way to say it? Why?
They are not both teachers.
They are both not teachers.
Thank you!
They are not both teachers.
They are both not teachers.
Thank you!
Top answer
It depends what you're trying to say. The first sentence implies that one of them is a teacher, but not both of them are. The second sentence states that neither of them is a teacher.
- It depends what you're trying to say.
- The first sentence implies that one of them is a teacher, but not both of them are.
- The second sentence states that neither of them is a teacher.
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2 Answers
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It depends what you're trying to say. The first sentence implies that one of them is a teacher, but not both of them are. The second sentence states that neither of them is a teacher.
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Yes, and for this reason I always avoid "Both are not teachers". It's too ambiguous.
Likewise, a subject "all ..." or "every ..." with a negated verb is just asking for trouble!
Example:
"All the students were not present" is sometimes said to mean "Not all the students were present, but some were" and is sometimes said to mean "No student was present" / "All students were ab
Likewise, a subject "all ..." or "every ..." with a negated verb is just asking for trouble!
Example:
"All the students were not present" is sometimes said to mean "Not all the students were present, but some were" and is sometimes said to mean "No student was present" / "All students were ab
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