The DU Lounge

raccoon

(31,111 posts) Tue Mar 11, 2014, 07:50 AM Mar 2014

Grammar question: Do I need a "not" here?

Example:

I don't know anything about Lynx in CHarlotte.

Which of the following is correct?

1. I don't know jack about Lynx.

2. I know jack about Lynx.

Because "jack" means "nothing, nada, zip, zilch, rien," I'm not sure if you need "not."

13 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Grammar question: Do I need a "not" here? (Original Post) raccoon Mar 2014 OP

Not at all. Glorfindel Mar 2014 #1

I always interpreted "jack" to mean "a bare minimum" Orrex Mar 2014 #2

If you're using terms like "jack" or "jack shit" you've already chosen a colloquial register of... JVS Mar 2014 #3

Number two is better, but it's a little awkward. Iggo Mar 2014 #4

... Kali Mar 2014 #10

It depends what the word 'jack' means. Avalux Mar 2014 #5

Look up definition of jack Sanity Claws Mar 2014 #6

I vote number two. newcriminal Mar 2014 #7

#1 is correct n/t PasadenaTrudy Mar 2014 #8

Aye! No not. kentauros Mar 2014 #9

Because of your own definition of "jack"... TeeYiYi Mar 2014 #11

I know nothing about Lynx = elleng Mar 2014 #12

say whatever you want orleans Mar 2014 #13

Glorfindel

(9,730 posts)

1. Not at all.

Reply to raccoon (Original post)

Tue Mar 11, 2014, 08:00 AM

Mar 2014

/220px-

Orrex

(63,215 posts)

2. I always interpreted "jack" to mean "a bare minimum"

Reply to raccoon (Original post)

Tue Mar 11, 2014, 10:00 AM

Mar 2014

In which case "I don't know (even) a bare minimum about Lynx" would seem just fine.

YMMV

JVS

(61,935 posts)

3. If you're using terms like "jack" or "jack shit" you've already chosen a colloquial register of...

Reply to raccoon (Original post)

Tue Mar 11, 2014, 10:12 AM

Mar 2014

speech to which rules about a double negatives don't apply. Feel free to use either.

Iggo

(47,558 posts)

4. Number two is better, but it's a little awkward.

Reply to raccoon (Original post)

Tue Mar 11, 2014, 10:32 AM

Mar 2014

Try "fuck all" instead of "jack".

Kali

(55,014 posts)

10. ...

Reply to Iggo (Reply #4)

Tue Mar 11, 2014, 09:15 PM

Mar 2014

Avalux

(35,015 posts)

5. It depends what the word 'jack' means.

Reply to raccoon (Original post)

Tue Mar 11, 2014, 10:41 AM

Mar 2014

If it means 'anything' - then number 1 is correct.

If it means 'nothing, nada, zip' - a negative - then number 2 is correct.

It's incorrect to have a double negative.

Sanity Claws

(21,849 posts)

6. Look up definition of jack

Reply to raccoon (Original post)

Tue Mar 11, 2014, 09:04 PM

Mar 2014

I just did. It is short for jack shit. Then look up definition of jack shit. It is defined both as nothing at all and the least thing. So we are back to where we started from.

I say that the phrase has such a vulgar background that grammar regarding its usage probably should not be a major concern.