contractions - Is it okay to say and write "ain't" yet?


Over 10 years ago saying "ain't" was discouraged but it was gaining momentum. What happened? Seems like it's still discouraged. Maybe in another 10 years?



Answer



After centuries of being denigrated by schoolmarms the word “ain’t” has taken up a unusual position in the English language.


It is a word that almost embodies the essence of informality in language. Using it means that you consider the discourse context to be one of extreme informality, or when using it in a context which is already quite formal, it serves to lighten the mood or to inject a degree of folksiness.


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