Journal Not Un-Notted Up

Abstract

To the Editor.— The title page of the article by Feman and Tilford 1 on ocular histoplasmosis exhibits two uses of double negative construction (not an uncommon cause and a rare infectious agent). Double negative terminology is gramatically annoying and semantically misleading. For example, the declaration that Tennessee Histoplasma capsulatum is not a rare infectious agent 1 is a gross understatement, since positive histoplasmin skin tests can be obtained in up to 90% of Tennessee residents. 2,3 Double negatives are commonly used as a dodge to avoid more accurate designations of probability or prevalence and should be avoided.