Litotes affirms a positive meaning by negating its opposite, producing deliberate, often understated or ironic emphasis, as in her success was not undeserved or winning the championship twice is no small feat, rather than a flat, direct statement.
Grammar Rule
Litotes expresses an affirmative meaning by negating its opposite, producing deliberate understatement rather than a flat statement.
Double Negation for Stylistic Effect (Litotes): Rules and Examples
| Pattern | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| not + negative-prefixed adjective | not un-/in-/im-/dis- + adjective | Her success was not undeserved. The results were not insignificant. |
| no + negative noun phrase | no + small/mean + noun | Winning the championship twice is no small feat. |
| not without + noun | not without + noun | He accepted the offer, not without some hesitation. |
Remember: litotes = not + negative-prefixed word (or no + negative noun) to affirm politely by denying the opposite; use correct prefixes and avoid stacking more than one negation.
Practice Test
Instructions
Answer each question in the test below using double negation and litotes correctly for stylistic effect. You will get a new random set of questions every time you retake the test, plus a downloadable results summary with your name and score at the end.
C1-60 Double Negation for Stylistic Effect (Litotes)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does litotes do?
It affirms a positive meaning by negating its opposite, as in her success was not undeserved.
What pattern uses no plus a negative noun phrase?
No + small/mean + noun, as in winning the championship twice is no small feat.
What does not without plus a noun express?
A qualified concession, as in he accepted the offer, not without some hesitation.
Should more than one negation be stacked in litotes?
No, that should be avoided along with using the correct negative prefixes.