don't

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contraction

ˈdōnt

: do not

: does not

Usage of Don't

Don't is the earliest attested contraction of does not and until about 1900 was the standard spoken form in the U.S. (it survived as spoken standard longer in British English). Dialect surveys find it more common in the speech of the less educated than in that of the educated; in those places (such as the Midland and southern Atlantic seaboard regions) where it has lasted in educated speech, it is most common with older informants. Surveys of attitudes toward usage show it more widely disapproved in 1971 than it had been 40 years earlier. Its chief use in edited prose is in fiction for purposes of characterization. It is sometimes used consciously, like ain't, to gain an informal effect.

don't

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noun

: a command or entreaty not to do something

a list of dos and don'ts

Examples of don't in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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Noun

Last week's Cruising Altitude:The dos and don'ts of doing your business on a plane How do airlines decide when to offer airfare discounts? —

Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2024 Phishing Protection Tips Stay alert and follow these simple dos and don'ts to guard against phishing: - Avoid clicking links in emails and IMs. —

Alex Vakulov, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 Here are some Blink dos and don'ts, according to an expert. —

Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 11 Oct. 2024 Read on to find out the dos and don'ts of freezing angel food cake. —

Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for don't