Never give up (or in)

Posted by SR on February 10, 2004

In Reply to: Never give up (or in) posted by ESC on February 10, 2004

: : :We were discussing a poster in one of our classrooms today.
: : Which is correct, preferred and why?
: : "Never, never give up!"
: : or
: : "Never, never, give up!"
: : or
: : "Never ever give up!"
: : or
: : "Never, ever give up!"
: : Many thanks again.

: It sounds like a Winston Churchill quote. I am away from my quote books so I am not sure if what I am posting here is exactly what he said. (See below.) Someone please correct me if I am wrong (and I am sure someone will).

: Going back to your question, I believe it is correct to write:
: Never, never give up. (one comma) and
: Never, ever, give up. ("ever" inclosed in commas)

: "Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never, in nothing, great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense."

: ECS- The problem I am having with "never, never give up!" is if I look at "never give up" as a command meaning never, at any time, give up, surrender etc., and then I add "never" to the command, as in "never, never give up!"... am I not then creating the double negative and telling them to give up? Is this overanalysis or simply awkward structure?

• Never give up (or in) Smokey Stover 10/February/04
  • Never give up (or in) ESC 10/February/04
    • Never give up (or in) Henry 10/February/04
      • Never give up (or in) Kilroy 10/February/04