“Let us see whether or not there was not a mistake in the record.” Omit either or not or the second not.
“The boat will not stop only when the signal flag is raised.” Omit not or change only to except.
“He will never return, I don’t believe.” Say, “He will never return,” or, if that statement is two emphatic, say, “I don’t believe he will ever return.”
Don’t want none
“I don’t want none,” “I ain’t got nothing,” “He can’t do no more,” are inelegant expressions that convey a meaning opposed to that intended.
“I don’t want any,” or, “I do not want any,” or, “I want none,” are correct equivalents for the first sentence; “I haven’t anything,” or, “I have nothing,” should take the place of the second; and, “He can’t do any more,” or, “He can do no more,” or “He cannot do more,” will serve for the third.
“I cannot stop to tell you hardly any of the adventures that befell Theseus.” Change cannot to can. “I have not had a moment’s time to read hardly since I left school.” Say, “I have hardly a moment’s time,” etc.
No—no
“The faculties are called into no exercise by doing a thing merely because others do it, no more than by believing a thing only because others believe it,” says George P. Marsh. He should have used any instead of the second no.