Standard English allows two negatives only if a positive meaning is intended: The orchestra was not unhappy with its performance (meaning that the orchestra was happy). Using a double negative to emphasize a negative meaning is nonstandard.

Negative modifiers such as never, no, and not should not be paired with other negative modifiers or with negative words such as neither, none, no one, nobody, and nothing.

The double negative not…nothing is nonstandard.

The modifiers hardly, barely, and scarcely are considered negatives in Standard English, so they should not be used with negatives such as not, no one, or never.