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Frank Dauenhauer
Former Technical Writer & Editor of Company Publications at Eastman Kodak
Products and Services (1960–1991)Updated 6y
Which is correct to use "I really don't know" or "I don't know really" or "I
don't really know"?
Originally Answered: Which is correct to use "I really don't know" or "I
don't know really" or "I don't really know" ?
Which is correct to use:
"I really don't know,"
"I don't know really," or
"I don't really know"?
They are all correct. In this case, which concerns a modifier,1 the answer
is that the modifier should be as close as possible to the item it modifies.
In these sentences, the speaker of each has a similar thought: but one that
differs in emphasis.
“I really don’t know” emphasizes the negative aspect. This word order
would be used in a situation where it has been insinuated that the speaker
does know something.
“I don’t know, really” emphasizes the entire sentence. This would be used
if there had been some attempt to force the speaker to admit to knowing
something. Note the addition of the comma, which separates the sentence
proper from the appended modifier.
“I don’t really know” emphasizes the knowledge aspect. This would be used
if there were some doubt as to whether the speaker just suspects something or
actually knows it.
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1 Grammar Girl : Misplaced Modifiers
http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/misplaced-modifiers
It’s easiest to get modifiers right when you keep them as close as possible
to the thing they are modifying.
Misplaced Modifiers
A misplaced modifier is a modifier that is not located next to, or as close
as possible to, whatever it is modifying. The modifier is not attached
properly to the thing being modified.