Do not put statements in the negative form.

This is William Safire’s third rule of grammar. Two more to go.

Here’s the late, great Ella, telling us about it. 

Using the advice, the title, above, would be: Put statements in the positive form.

Right? Okay, but don’t we have to use negative statements sometimes? I honestly don’t know what this one is about.

But I did some research on negation and found some esoteric things.

Like, the subtle difference between these two statements:

      (1) I don't think [that he came] (I don't know what he did)
          (2) I think [that he didn't come] (I think that he stayed away)

And these not-so-subtly different statements:

      (1) I didn't say [that he lied] (I said nothing)
          (2) I said [that he didn't lie] (I said that he told the truth)

The above are taken from:

https://www.thoughtco.com/negation-in-grammar-1691424

Any more thoughts on this?

Summertime and Blues

There’s so much to love about summertime. The lazy, hazy, crazy days.

The sunshine, the easy livin’. (Sorry about the ad on this link. I love this version)

This, by the way, is one of my favorite songs in the world. I even sang it once on a very small stage. I’m partial to blues. Something about summer and blues, isn’t there?

I can’t mention summertime and blues without this one

Sorry about the bad sound, but the visuals are essential.

If you don’t know this one, here are the lyrics.

Are your feet tappin’? Are the blues lifting? No, click on the links, man.

I hope you have as much fun listening to these as I’ve had, putting this post together.

Hint: a couple three glasses of wine make it even better.

All the photos are from morguefile.com