(03-15-2016, 11:44 PM)mugatiya Wrote:(03-15-2016, 08:02 PM)ahbowledhim Wrote: You misunderstood bro. I said "entertaining if not brilliant". Meaning it was not brilliant, it was just entertaining.Quote:Q: My question is about a sentence like “Jones is smart, if not brilliant.” Does this mean “Jones is smart, but he isn’t brilliant”? Or does it mean “Jones is smart and maybe even brilliant”? It seems to me I’ve heard this “if not” construction used both ways.http://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2013/10/if-not.html
A: We’re not surprised that you’re confused by this use of “if not.” It can be downright confusing, especially in writing when you aren’t able to use intonation and emphasis to get your meaning across.
The usage authority Bryan A. Garner says “if not” can mean either “but not” or “maybe even.”
Writing in Garner’s Modern American Usage (3rd ed.), he says it’s “often an ambiguous phrase to be avoided.”
You shouldn't have used it that way buddy. Because Could it could mean 2 things.
I took it as its entertaining and perhaps brilliant.
So it was an unclear term. It was an ok movie. I will stick to banana boat English from now on - cant mess that up.