What is the correct way to say this phrase? Is it "They ARE a force to be reckoned with" or "They AREN'T a force to be reckoned with"? I hear it both ways, so which is the correct way?
by 
Penny The Wise
ANSWERS: 5
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They ARE a force to be reckoned with. Reckon is defined as have confidence or faith in, deem to be, or take account of.
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Google: Results 1 - 10 of 10 for "They aren't a force to be reckoned with". Results 1 - 10 of about 14,000 for "They are not a force to be reckoned with". Results 1 - 10 of about 23,000 for "They are a force to be reckoned with". For me, it looks like both were correct, one just meaning the opposite of the other: they are a force to be reckoned with: you must take them into account they are not a force to be reckoned with: you can ignore them
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It sounds as though the people who use 'they aren't' are getting confused with the phrase 'they are not to be trifled with'.
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They mean different things. The "Are" one means it will be a struggle and you need to take it seriously! The "Aren't" one means don't bother with them or ignore them, they are not important to worry about.
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Both phrases mean something totally different so they are both correct. It just depends on how you are using them.
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