Quote:
Originally Posted by bay_slayer
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usage Although widely
disapproved as
nonstandard and more common in the
habitual speech of the less educated,
ain't 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 <the wackiness of movies, once so deliciously amusing,
ain't funny anymore — Richard Schickel> <I am telling you—there
ain't going to be any blackmail — R. M. Nixon>. It is used especially in journalistic prose as part of a consistently informal style <the creative process
ain't easy — Mike Royko>. This informal
ain't is commonly distinguished from habitual
ain't by its frequent occurrence in fixed constructions and phrases <well—class it
ain't —
Cleveland Amory> <for money? say it
ain't so, Jimmy! — Andy Rooney> <you
ain't seen nothing yet> <that
ain't hay> <two out of three
ain't bad> <if it
ain't broke, don't fix it>. In fiction
ain't 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 <
Ain't She Sweet> <It
Ain't Necessarily So>. Our evidence shows British use to be much the same as American.