1

What does the author mean by this: 'It is hard not to conclude there is none...' Here is the whole context:

What is the cure? It is hard not to conclude there is none: some problems have no solution, one can only manage things as best one can.

Is this a case of triple negative because of the use of the word 'hard'? Can you explain what is really being said there?

Appy
  • 13
  • 1
    You're perhaps thinking of hardly rather than hard. – KarlG Jan 23 '18 at 21:03
  • 1
    "Hard" is a negative trigger. See https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/63718/at-all-vs-not-at-all-in-negated-sentences/63728#63728 by John Lawler and the link to a list of negative polarity and negative trigger items. – Xanne Jan 23 '18 at 22:50

3 Answers3

1

No, because the word "hard" is not a negative. In this context, "hard not to" implies that it is "easy to" but "hard" is still not a negative.

Kathryn
  • 537
  • I suppose ''not hard to'' means "easy to", "hard not to" means more like "tempting". – Appy Jan 23 '18 at 21:13
  • If "hard not to" equals "easy to", as you suggest, that is already a double negative, isn't it? Add the word "none" and you have a triple negative. – WS2 Jan 23 '18 at 22:19
1

The key here is the desire, or preference, of the author. The author wants there to be a cure. He wants to be able to conclude that there is a cure, and so he does not want to conclude that there is no cure.

Unfortunately, after looking at the evidence, he finds that he is unable to do this: therefore, it is hard not to conclude that there is no cure. It's like saying "I am reluctantly forced to conclude that there is no cure", or, perhaps, "It looks like there is no cure. I have not formally made that decision yet, but it's hard to see how I can make any other decision"

Note that "Hard not to" isn't the same thing as "easy to" - the key difference is in what you might want to do.

Consider "It's easy to kill yourself with a gun" versus "It's hard not to kill yourself with a gun". The first is true - point it at your head and pull the trigger. The second is not true, because you can just put the gun down and walk away.

Max Williams
  • 23,081
0

The meaning is far stronger than "easy to" or "tempted". It means the obvious conclusion is that there is no cure and nothing exists suggesting any alternative conclusion.

Ross Murray
  • 1,434