92 / PART ONE: THE BASICS He forgot his wife’s birthday. Clare was absent in the afternoon. Avoid double negatives which make a positive: There isn’t no one there. I haven’t got no lunch. The ‘not’ and the ‘no’ cancel each other out and therefore the first example means there is someone there and the second means I have got some lunch. There is a choice of two correct versions. Only one negative should be used if the sense is to be kept: There isn’t anyone there. or There is no one there. I haven’t got any lunch. or I have no lunch. Avoid double negatives. Always check your work to make sure that it makes sense. Avoid vagueness and expressions which add nothing to your CHECKING YOUR WORK