Whether or not: the implicature

"Whether or Not"

According to Fowler's "Modern English Usage", "whether or not" is not strictly incorrect.

It's only nonstrictly incorrect.

The pertinent article acknowledges that "whether or not" can be a legitimate contraction of

"whether it will or will not".

Nevertheless, you should avoid the construction, Grice suggests, as it is less often used than abused.

There are three scenarios to consider whether (or not) to use "whether or not".

(i) Where the alternatives are immaterial:

"Whether or not literature is available on computer, readers are likely to continue to cherish books."

Prefer:

"Regardless of whether literature is available on computer, readers are likely to continue to cherish books."

(ii) Where a simple alternative exists:

What the government decides to do depends on whether or not the bill passes.

Prefer:

"What the government decides to do depends on whether the bill passes."

[fails].

(Explicitly state the alternative on which you wish to place the most emphasis.)

iii. Where emphasis on both alternatives is desired:

Whether or not Canadians agree, tax revenues must increase.

Prefer:

Whether Canadians agree or [whether] they don't, tax revenues must increase.

Avoid at all costs:

Whether or not you drive or take the bus, the trip will take 30 minutes.

(Clearly wrong, as

"or not"

cannot apply to the other alternative, which is both positive and explicitly stated.)


Fowler, H.W. 1984. A Dictionary of Modern English Usage—2nd ed. Oxford University Press.