diff --git a/vaderSentiment/vaderSentiment.py b/vaderSentiment/vaderSentiment.py
index 615ab75..9f43ad7 100644
--- a/vaderSentiment/vaderSentiment.py
+++ b/vaderSentiment/vaderSentiment.py
@@ -31,14 +31,14 @@
 N_SCALAR = -0.74
 
 NEGATE = \
-    ["aint", "arent", "cannot", "cant", "couldnt", "darent", "didnt", "doesnt",
+    {"aint", "arent", "cannot", "cant", "couldnt", "darent", "didnt", "doesnt",
      "ain't", "aren't", "can't", "couldn't", "daren't", "didn't", "doesn't",
      "dont", "hadnt", "hasnt", "havent", "isnt", "mightnt", "mustnt", "neither",
      "don't", "hadn't", "hasn't", "haven't", "isn't", "mightn't", "mustn't",
      "neednt", "needn't", "never", "none", "nope", "nor", "not", "nothing", "nowhere",
      "oughtnt", "shant", "shouldnt", "uhuh", "wasnt", "werent",
      "oughtn't", "shan't", "shouldn't", "uh-uh", "wasn't", "weren't",
-     "without", "wont", "wouldnt", "won't", "wouldn't", "rarely", "seldom", "despite"]
+     "without", "wont", "wouldnt", "won't", "wouldn't", "rarely", "seldom", "despite"}
 
 # booster/dampener 'intensifiers' or 'degree adverbs'
 # http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Category:English_degree_adverbs
@@ -87,15 +87,9 @@ def negated(input_words, include_nt=True):
     Determine if input contains negation words
     """
     input_words = [str(w).lower() for w in input_words]
-    neg_words = []
-    neg_words.extend(NEGATE)
-    for word in neg_words:
-        if word in input_words:
+    for word in input_words:
+        if word in NEGATE or (include_nt and "n't" in word):
             return True
-    if include_nt:
-        for word in input_words:
-            if "n't" in word:
-                return True
     '''if "least" in input_words:
         i = input_words.index("least")
         if i > 0 and input_words[i - 1] != "at":