Not everyone?

pdh0224 · Post by **pdh0224** » Sat Nov 13, 2004 11:36 am

Dear teacher,

But the fact that the system is based on Windows complicated the issue, since not everyone was familiar with pull-down menus and other basic features. "There are people who are Windows savvy and those who aren't," Sergeant Navin said. Officers in their late 50's and early 60's tend to resist the new system more than younger officers do.

Q : I think "not everyone" is odd because an adverb "not" can't modifies a noun "everyone". The correct phrase is "not every one". "everyone" should be seperated in the case. What do you think?

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Sat Nov 13, 2004 12:34 pm

'Not everyone' is a negative pronoun phrase that, like 'not everything', can stand as a clause subject. The 'not' relates to the adjectival component of the pronoun, but the word is nevertheless correctly written as a single item.