The Dalhousie Faculty of Graduate Studies and the Phantasmal Double Negative

When I became a graduate student at Dalhousie, I was welcomed with a gift bag. One of the articles in that yellow Roots tote was the Graduate Handbook, which didn't turn out to be very useful. Now, if a student drops a course after a given date, the result is typically a 'W' on the transcript, which is not considered desirable. In the second year of my program, I dropped a course because the Grading Policy section of the Handbook said that graduate students would not get Ws, except if they voluntarily withdrew from their program (note the difference between a 'course' and one's degree 'program' which consists of many courses). At the time I read this, I was enrolled in a course that I didn't really have enough time for. Well, I was a graduate student, I had every intention of completing my program, and I figured I'd prefer to take the course next year, so I dropped it. BAM! What's this? I get a W on my transcript!

I contacted the Faculty of Graduate Studies to bring the problem to their attention. It turned out that what I had read was actually an error in the Handbook, and so the entire Handbook was therefore pulled from the Faculty website (never to return; the document no longer exists in print or online). Could they take the W off? Apparently that would be too much. Instead, the Dean and the Program Officer insisted that I had misunderstood a double negative, and stuck to their guns for three months despite clear evidence that the sentence in question had no such grammatical structure.

I don't let go very easily, and in the end I prevailed in getting the W off my transcript, but whoa was it a lot of work, none of which should have been necessary. Throughout the experience, I felt that I was treated in a very patronizing and dismissive way.

Here's how it went down: 

 

Hello,

I am wondering about a passage found in the graduate studies handbook,
posted online. It is from section C, which pertains to grading.
"Note that a "W" will not be entered on transcripts for graduate
students except when a student has voluntarily withdrawn from a
graduate program."

Am I correct in inferring that the passage quoted above means that
unless I completely drop out of my master's program, a W from a
dropped course will not be recorded on my transcript? That's what I
thought it meant, so I went ahead and dropped a class rather
fearlessly when I felt that I had bitten off more than I could chew,
however, the 'W' came through on my transcript.

Thanks, Dalhousie Girl

Hi Dalhousie Girl,

Thank-you for pointing this out. I've asked that the statement you note below be removed from the Studnt Handbook as it is no longer applicable. Your online withdrawal resulted in the appropriate grade of 'W'.

Please do not hesitate to let me know if I can be of further assistance.

Regards, [Program Officer]

Hi [Program Officer],

Thanks for your response.
With respect, I feel that the situation is unfair.
I made a decision to drop the course, and take it at a better time, in
accordance with the passage from section c of the graduate handbook
that was published online: "Note that a "W" will not be entered on

transcripts for graduate students except when a student has

voluntarily withdrawn from a graduate program". I 'noted' this and
acted accordingly, and am now faced with a consequence that the
handbook indicated would not happen! I therefore hold that the grade
of W was not 'appropriate'. It is not my fault if the information
published online was in error; I acted in accordance with the
officially published information that I accessed, as any reasonable
person might do.

Thanks, Dalhousie Girl

Hi Dalhousie Girl,

I spoke with the Dean about your concern over the wording in the Student Handbook and he pointed out that the sentence you refer to is grammatically correct and accurate, but that it's use of a double negative is probably why it was misunderstood.

Regards, [Program Officer]

Hi [Program Officer],

Thanks for talking to the Dean (and so soon).

I'm really confused by the response though... I did not mean to
complain about the grammar in the student handbook (I did not notice
any errors in grammar, in that passage or any other).

The Dean mentions a double negative, but I cannot see one in the
sentence "Note that a "W" will not be entered on transcripts for

graduate students except when a student has voluntarily withdrawn from

a graduate program". Maybe I'm having a dumb moment, but could you
point it out for me? I've been re-reading it and I still can't find
the double negative.

Thanks, Dalhousie Girl

Hi [Program Officer],

There is no double negative in the passage: Note that a "W' will not

be entered on transcripts for graduate students except when a student
has voluntarily withdrawn from a graduate program". The passage is from
section C 'grading policy' of the graduate student handbook, published
online and available to students at this official university webpage:
http://dalgrad.dal.ca/currentstudents/handbook/.

I did not misunderstand this clear passage due to a double negative,
as this grammatical structure does not exist in the passage in
question. I have confirmed that there is no double negative with a
professor who teaches English grammar at this university.

Double negatives are, however, a red herring.

I made a rational decision based on a statement in the handbook. I
have been told that the statement is 'not applicable' and in error.
Then I am told that it is in fact accurate, but that I have
misunderstood the grammar. The first issue is the university's
problem, not mine (the university is responsible for what it
publishes). The second is absurd, as no 'double negative' even exists!

I cannot understand why I am being treated in this way.

Hi Dalhousie Girl,

It would be good to continue this conversation in person - if you're on campus would you be able to come to the office this afternoon? If not please let me know a time and number where I can reach you by phone. (I'll be out of the office most of the morning.)

Regards, [Program Officer]

Hi [Program Officer],

Thanks for your phone call this afternoon. It meant a lot to me, as
you really don't have to deal with this at all. [Poppycock. FGS was responsible for dealing with this]

I am disappointed that I cannot trust official publications such as
the graduate handbook (which I note has been removed from the Faculty
website), but know for the future that I must always and only consult
the graduate calendar.

If the handbook is revised, it would be useful, for the sake of future
unsuspecting students, to have its unreliability plainly indicated on
the handbook itself (and preferably in bold 72-pt font on the first
page). My own view is that if the handbook is not entirely reliable as
a document, it ought to be dispensed with entirely (i.e., why use the
handbook at all if only the calendar can be trusted?). I did not know
that until I started this correspondence. Had I known so before, I
would have only consulted the calendar, thereby successfully avoiding
this unfortunate situation.

You mentioned that the Dean's insists that the passage from section C,
namely "Note that a "W" will not be entered on transcripts for
graduate students except when a student has voluntarily withdrawn from
a graduate program" is accurate, but contains a double negative that
caused me to misunderstand its true meaning. I find that very
difficult to accept, because it is obvious that there is no double
negative in the passage.

Therefore, I have one request: Can anyone identify the double negative
in the passage? If it is really there, he should be able to identify
it and briefly explain how it works.

Here's my example, which indicates that there is no double negative:

The sentence contains two parts.
1. A "W" will not be entered.
2. One exception applies: when a student voluntarily withdraws from a
program

I am not inarticulate* and I am confident that there is no double
negative in that sentence. The Dean is making the mistake of assuming
that because there are two 'negatives' in the sentence, the sentence
therefore contains a 'double negative', which functions to reverse its
meaning and confuse poor students like me.

In standard written English, a double negative only occurs when the
negations are used in the same clause; in our passage, the negations
'not' and 'except' are used in separate clauses. Anyone who tries to
identify and explain the purported double negative will quickly be
forced to realize this (and thus the point of the exercise). I teach
English at the public library and work as editor in chief at an
in-house publication; I know my stuff, and I will eat humble pie if I
am wrong. I have appended a full analysis of the grammar of the
passage in a footnote; it clearly demonstrates why there is no double
negative. It also includes a statement from a professor who teaches
writing and grammar; his reasoning is identical to mine.


Thanks for your time, Dalhousie Girl

______
Footnote - Logic of passage.

I'm treading on dangerous ground here because it is considered rude
(cf. Miss Manners) to point out the errors of others (and this may be
particularly so when one is a student and the other is the Dean!), but
I feel at this point that it is necessary, as I am hitting a wall. I
doubt that any Dean would appreciate having his or her grammar
corrected by a textin' twenty year old, and long ago I learned that
one gains nothing from rubbing important people the wrong way. So,
here goes nothin':

"Note that a "W" will *not* be entered on transcripts for graduate
students /except/ when a student has voluntarily withdrawn from a
graduate program"

Reduces to

Note that X will *not* occur, /except/ when Y occurs
= If Y occurs... tough luck! X can now occur.
= If Y does not occur... phew, X will not occur. Why? Because the
sentence tells us that X will not occur...EXCEPT when Y occurs. That
means that with the *exception of situation Y*, X will not occur.

X= W entered on transcript
Y= voluntarily withdrawn from grad program


'Except' modifies the first clause, which told us that X would not
occur (Note that a W will not be entered...). It means that when 'Y'
happens, the statement that 'X will not occur' is no longer
applicable.

A comparable sentence: Note that Johnny will *not* be grounded,
/except/ when he has skipped class. This means that if Johnny skips
class (= If I withdraw from my MSc program) our rule that Johnny will
not be grounded (= that a W will not be entered on the transcript) is
no longer applicable. In other words, if he is naughty and skips class
(= if I drop out of my MSc program) he can get grounded (= I'll can
get hit with those W's).

Y has not occurred (Johnny did not skip class; I did not voluntarily
withdraw from my graduate program of MSc in Epidemiology); but
illogically, I have a W on my transcript (and Johnny is upstairs in
his room, pouting, and crying 'no fair'!).

In standard written English, a double negative occurs when occurs when
two forms of negation are used in the same clause. In my in-text
example*, I said "I am not inarticulate...". In that expression, 'not'
and the prefix 'in-' cancel each other to indicate that I am, in fact,
articulate. Note that I used those negatives in the same clause, and
remember that a double negative occurs when two negatives are used in
the same clause.

In the case of the passage we are discussing, the two negatives are
'not' and 'except'. Does the fact that they are both used in the same
sentence mean that the sentence is therefore a double negative,
causing the meaning of the sentence to reverse and become the
opposite? No! The two negatives are not found in the same clause
(therefore, a double negative does not exist). The phrase means
exactly what it sounds like; namely, that a student will not be given
a W, except when he or she voluntarily withdraws from his or her
graduate program. I did not voluntarily withdraw from my program (I
voluntarily withdrew from my *class*, not my *program*), so according
to that passage, I should not have a W on my transcript.

I double-checked my reasoning with a professor who teaches grammar.
Here's what he said:

 ***
The sentence makes two points:
1. A "W" will not be entered.
2. One exception applies: when a student voluntarily withdraws from a
program.

A voluntary program withdrawal did not occur, therefore (1) does not apply.

There is nothing unclear about it, really.

To make the sentence have a double negative, it would have to say
something like this:

Note that a "W" will not be entered on transcripts for graduate
students except when a student does not remain in a graduate program".

Hi Dalhousie Girl,

It was a pleasure to read this email and [the Dean] used the words "exceptionally thoughtful" to describe it. However, he asked me to point out that your correct parsing of the sentence with the word "not" used twice is correct and hence the double negative.

Regards, [Program Officer]

Hi [Program Officer],

Thanks for your note. I'm glad that the Dean read my message and
flattered that he complimented it. I am relieved that he agrees that
there are two clauses in the sentence, and that they were correctly
identified. These clauses were also identified by the grammar prof, so
we have consensus here :)

However, I respectfully suggest that the Dean is in error. The Dean
asked you to point this out to me (quote: "However, he asked me to

point out that your correct parsing of the sentence with the word

"not" used twice is correct and hence the double negative"). This is
wrong. First of all, the sentence only uses the word 'not' once (i.e.,
the word is not used twice)

It uses 'not' in the first clause, and 'except' in the second. In
order for the phrase to contain a double negative, the negatives
('not' and 'except') must occur in the same clause. That is the
definition of a double negative; to repeat, a double negative occurs
when two forms of negation are used in the same clause.

Clause 1:  "Note that a "W" will *not* be entered on transcripts for
graduate students
Clause 2:  *except* when a student has voluntarily withdrawn from a
graduate program.

I have highlighted the words 'not' and 'except' with asterisks.

-Note that the word *not* occurs in the first line, after the heading
'clause 1'. Note also that the word *not* only occurs once in the
entire phrase.

-Note that the word *except* occurs in the second line, after the
heading 'clause 2'

-Note that the word 'not' is in clause 1, whereas 'except' is in
clause 2. This indicates that the words occur in different clauses. If
both words occurred in clause 1, or if both words occurred in clause
2, we could say that the words occurred in the 'same clause'. However,
because one negation occurs in the first clause, and the other occurs
in the second clause, we are forced to conclude that the words occur
in 'different' clauses.

OK, here's the tough part, but I've tried to make it simple. It proves
why the phrase does not contain a double negative.

A double negative occurs when two forms of negation occur in the same clause.
In this phrase, the two forms of negation occur in different clauses.
Therefore, the phrase does not contain a double negative.

The form of logic I have used is:
If X then Y
Not Y
Therefore not X

This is known as the 'modus tollens' approach. It is the foundation of
hypothesis testing in modern science. The method is valid. I do not
recommend that the Dean attempt to refute it. If he could do so
successfully, all of the useful science and philosophy of the last two
thousand years would be overthrown. Philosophers everywhere would
faint in their armchairs. Phlogiston theory would be back.

Here are some examples that use the same logic.

If I am the axe murderer, then I used an axe.
I cannot use an axe.
Therefore, I am not the axe murderer.

If there is smoke, there is fire.
There is no fire,
so there is no smoke.

If I am happy, then I smile.
I am not smiling,
therefore I am not happy.

In these cases you may disagree with the premises (for instance, maybe
you don't smile when you are happy), but the method is irrefutable.

Hello [Dean] and [Program Officer]

Several days ago I sent a long email which carefully detailed why
there is no double negative in Section IV, C, 1c, 'grading policy' of
the Graduate Handbook. For reference, that phrase is: "Note that a "W"
will not be entered on transcripts for graduate students except when a
student has voluntarily withdrawn from a graduate program."

Although I was complimented on the 'thoughtfulness' of my message, it
appears that its substantive content was either missed or, perhaps,
ignored.

I explained that according to its definition (you can look this up), a
double negative occurs when two negations occur in the same clause. To
repeat, a double negative only occurs when two negatives occur in the
same clause. If the two negations do not occur in the same clause
(i.e., if the two negations occur in different clauses), there is no
double negative in the sentence.

Here's the most recent response I received: "However, he asked me to
point out that your correct parsing of the sentence with the word
"not" used twice is correct and hence the double negative."

This response demonstrates that my message fell on deaf ears. It is
irrelevant that the phrase contains two terms of negation, because
they do not occur in the same clause (again, by its definition, a
double negative only occurs when the two terms of negation are used in
the SAME clause). Also, for the record, the word 'not' is only used
once in the entire phrase!

The two clauses are:

1) Note that a "W" will not be entered on transcripts for graduate students

and

2) Except when a student has voluntarily withdrawn from a graduate program


The word 'not' occurs in the first clause. The word 'except' occurs in
the second. It should be abundantly clear that the words occur in
separate clauses. The words, therefore, do not cancel each other out
the way 'double negatives' do.

The only logical way to interpret the phrase is (and this was provided
to me by a prof who teaches grammar):

The sentence contains two parts.
1. A "W" will not be entered.
2. One exception applies: when a student voluntarily withdraws from a
program.

I did not drop out of my graduate program (MSc epidemiology);
therefore, the exception case (2) does NOT apply.

I regret the abrupt tone of this email, but at this point, I feel
quite frustrated at the way I have been blown off, and by the way I am
repeatedly told that I 'misunderstood because of a double negative'
when I have clearly and repeatedly demonstrated that no such
grammatical structure exists in the phrase to which I refer. There is
no double negative, and that is a fact. The matter is not ambiguous or
up for debate. The 'double negative' simply is not there.

I repeat, the response (which I expect to hear again), 'you
misunderstood because there are two negatives in the sentence hence a
double negative'' is incorrect, because the relevant negations do not
occur in the same clause. Graduate Studies cannot therefore provide me
with such an official explanation; it is not adequate and not
reasonable.

I expect that any claim that I 'misunderstood because of a double
negative' will confine itself to the constraints of logic and the
rules of grammar, and respect the established definition of a 'double
negative'. It is fair for me to ask for that. We are, after all, at a
university.

PS: I just realized something relevant to the 'double negative' issue
and it is important that I share it.

I have painstakingly explained why there is no double negative in the
passage. Now, let's pretend that my message is again ignored, and FGS
again insists that there is a double negative (violating several rules
of logic and grammar, but hey).

Double negatives cancel to make a positive. As in, in the phrase 'I am
not inarticlulate', the 'not' and the 'in' cancel each other to mean
'I am articulate'.

Let's take the negatives 'not' and 'except'. If we cancelled them from
the phrase "Note that a "W" will not be entered on transcripts for
graduate students except when a student has voluntarily withdrawn from
a graduate program" we would now have "Note that a "W" will be entered
on transcripts for graduate students when a student has voluntarily
withdrawn from a graduate program".

I have not voluntarily withdrawn from my program (master of science).
So the new sentence does not apply!

Nothing changed!

There is no double negative in the sentence, for reasons that I have
explained several times (namely, that the two negatives must occur in
the same clause, and in this sentence, they occur in different
clauses, ergo, there is no double negative). However, if I *pretend*
that there is a double negative (just for the sake of argument), and I
cancel the 'not' and the 'except', the new sentence still does not
apply to me.

To repeat: even if there were a double negative (and I have already
proved that there isn't), it wouldn't matter!

The claim that I' misunderstood the passage because of a double
negative' is dead in the water. 1) It isn't true. 2) Even if it were
true (and it is not true; see point 1), the resulting passage does not
apply to me, because I did not voluntarily withdraw from my graduate
program (master of science).

You know...whoever wrote that passage probably wrote 'program' instead
of 'class'. FGS may be trying to cover up for them; if so, I'd say
that the attempt has seriously backfired.

Good day Dalhousie Girl,

Let us agree to disagree on the grammatical assessment.  The policy in FGS is that a student may only get a W if they have withdrawn by the withdrawal date established for each term.

[Dean]

Good day [Dean],

I thank you for your quick response. I understand your position, but I
would like to bring two issues to your attention, and inform you that
I will proceed to formal appeal if the W is not removed from my
transcript.

My case hinges on the interpretation of the grading policy, as defined
in section IV C 1c of the graduate handbook; therefore, I regret that
I cannot ‘agree to disagree’ about the grammatical assessment of that
policy. I have explained the correct interpretation of that passage,
and I have had that interpretation confirmed by an expert in English
grammar. I have proven, through the sound application of the
established definition of a double negative, and the use of valid
logic, that there is no double negative in the passage. I have
demonstrated that even if the sentence were treated as a double
negative, the passage would nevertheless retain its original meaning.

The FGS has essentially made two errors in its interpretation of the
passage, and those errors do not cancel each other to make a right. I
can easily defend my position; however, the assertion that a double
negative in the passage caused me to misunderstand it indefensible. If
you feel that FGS’ position concerning the grammatical interpretation
of that passage is in fact reasonable, I encourage you to share,
demonstrate, and defend that reasoning, as I have done with mine.

The next issue that I would like to bring to your consideration
involves the ‘fairness’ of how discrepancies between the graduate
handbook and the graduate calendar are handled. Ms. Fletcher has
informed me that the policies set out in the graduate calendar take
precedence over those in the handbook. Section IV C 1c of the handbook
stands in conflict with section 6.6.7 of the graduate calendar.

The graduate handbook is presumably provided to students as a helpful
guidance document. However, if it contains discrepancies with the
calendar, the student is held responsible for the consequences that
might result from having mistakenly trusted the handbook. A student
cannot use the handbook in good faith: the student must read both the
calendar and the handbook, and then determine the validity of each
passage and policy in the handbook by comparing it against the
relevant information in the calendar. The safe use of the handbook as
a guidance document therefore requires a doubling of effort beyond
reading the calendar, and has the potential to cause undue stress and
confusion to the student who acts in good faith.

Any student who consults the graduate calendar is met with a long
disclaimer to the reliability of the information contained therein.
Note that the page containing this disclaimer immediately precedes
p.1, ‘academic class add/drop dates’. I quote: “Students are further
advised that the content of this calendar is subject to change without
notice, other than through the regular processes of Dalhousie
University, and every student accepted for registration in the
University shall be deemed to have agreed to any such deletion,
revision or addition whether made before or after said acceptance”.

In other words, a student cannot in fact trust any policy found in the
calendar, because those policies may have changed, or may change at
any time, outside of a regular process at Dalhousie and without any
notice whatsoever to the student. Furthermore, the calendar clearly
states that it is not in fact the final authority on policies, that
rather, other policies can be found in other publications provided by
the faculty: “Additionally, students are advised that this calendar is
not an all-inclusive set of rules and regulations but represents only
a portion of the rules and regulations that will govern the student's
relationship with the University. Other rules and regulations are
contained in additional publications that are available to the student
from the registrar's office, and/ or the relevant faculty, department
or school”.

Let us stop a moment to consider the fairness of this procedure. A
student reads the handbook in good faith, and makes a rational
decision based on a policy discrepant to a policy or policies found in
the calendar. FGS absolves itself of the responsibility of providing
accurate policy documents, and instead blames the victim, that is, the
student, for having failed to detect FGS’s error. The student is
referred to the graduate calendar, a document that is held to have
priority over other publications. However, upon opening this document,
the student is immediately met with a disclaimer that clearly
indicates that no policy in the calendar can in fact be trusted by the
student, because those policies may change without regular process and
without notice to the student. The student is also informed that the
calendar is not in fact an all-inclusive policy document, but that
other policies can be found in other documents available to the
student. The handbook is an example of such a document. Should the
student consult that document, the handbook, in good faith, and there,
trip upon an error, FGS refers the student back to the graduate
calendar. The graduate calendar admits its unreliability and refers the
student back to the other policy documents. I submit for your
consideration the idea that these procedures are unfair, and that they
could appear to be designed to ensure the constant advantage of the
faculty at the expense of the student.

I respectfully request that the W be removed from my transcript, in
accordance with the valid interpretation of section IV C 1c ‘Grading
Policy’ of the Graduate Handbook of the Dalhousie Faculty of Graduate
Studies. If not, I regret that I must take the case to formal appeal.

I apologize for any inconvenience that my case has caused you or your
program officer.

Yours with sincerity and good will,

Dalhousie Girl

Good day Dalhousie Girl,

Withdrawing from a course is not a grading matter; it is an administrative matter, and therefore in my assessment not subject to a grade appeal.  The rules of the calendar apply.

[Dean]

Hi Dalhousie Girl,

I realize this is a very important issue for you, but I need to let you know the dates and regulations in the "Graduate Studies Calendar" as well as on the FGS website under FGS Regulations, are the official documents that govern administrative rules such as class drop dates. Again, I would like to thank you for your engagement.

Regards, [Program Officer]




At this point the Dean posts on his twitter account:

Well, I went ahead with my expensive vexatious appeal through Dalhousie Student Advocacy Services. The appeal contained all the correspondence you see above. As soon as FGS received it, they promptly removed the W from my transcript. DSAS, which is staffed by students from the Schulich School of Law, provides an invaluable service when things just aren't working with faculty or administrators. If you find yourself in a similar situation, check them out: https://www.dsu.ca/services/community-student-services/student-advocacy-service