AIN'T

Etymology: contraction of are not Date: 1749 am not ; are not ; is not, have not ; has not, do not ; does not ; did not, Usage: Although widely disapproved as nonstandard and more common in the habitual speech of the less educated, ~ in senses 1 and 2 is flourishing in American English. It is used in both speech and writing to catch attention and to gain emphasis . It is used especially in journalistic prose as part of a consistently informal style . This informal ~ is commonly distinguished from habitual ~ by its frequent occurrence in fixed constructions and phrases . In fiction ~ is used for purposes of characterization; in familiar correspondence it tends to be the mark of a warm personal friendship. It is also used for metrical reasons in popular songs . Our evidence shows British use to be much the same as American.