THE ANARCHIST'S GUIDE TO GRAMMAR: Hardly, Barely, Scarcely

Monday, September 26, 2011

Hardly, Barely, Scarcely

Each of these words is a negative. Please do not use them with other negatives.
He didn’t hardly have time to eat his dessert.
Improve that in either of two ways:
He didn’t have time to eat his dessert. OR
He hardly had time to eat his dessert.

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About the Grammar Anarchist

The Grammar Anarchist is a published author of books on language, an editor working with other writers, and a writing instructor (not a teacher, who can "teach" writing?) She toils from a dust-free computerized location in the Northwest (free of urban intervention).

The Grammar Anarchist has put up with the bad language habits that are running rampant in the U.S. and has pledged to do away with (destroy, eliminate, terminate, undo, get rid of) those who insist on trying to force "rules" on unsuspecting writers.

A friendly Anarchist, she is willing to help the ungrammarized to clean up their acts, exercise their control over language, and live unfettered lives of happy communication.

No words have been (or will be) harmed in the execution of this exercise.