Don't go anywhere vs don't go nowhere
Hye everyone,
I am confused here.
Do these two sentences mean the same?
1. Don't go anywhere
2. Don't go nowhere
Or one of them is grammatically wrong?
Coz is they mean the same, why the 'no' in the word nowhere then?
ibnuhanaffi
New member
1 answer 
"Don't go nowhere" is a double negative. In math, when you multiply two negative numbers, it equals a positive. The same thing applies in grammar. When you have two negatives in a sentence, it gives you a positive. When you say "don't go nowhere" it is the same as saying "do go somewhere."
Your first sentence is grammatically correct. Don't go anywhere. Do not is a negative and anywhere is a positive. A statement that means the same thing is: do go nowhere. In other words, they both mean stay where you are.
You can use go nowhere if it is matched up with a positive:
He will go nowhere with a flat tire on his car.
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answered Jan 21 '12 at 06:55
Patty T
Grammarly Fellow
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I love this answer! If I ever come across a "double negative" question, I'm going to provide a link to this.
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