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.
Examples of don't in a Sentence
Medea Giordano, WIRED, 11 Apr. 2024
But there are some clear dos and don'ts when talking about money woes with your kids.
—Emily Edlynn, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024
Just be sure to check the dos and don'ts of Cosplay at Indiana Comic Con.
—John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 22 Mar. 2024
The digital wedding planning platform reveals some dos and don'ts for ensuring an enjoyable experience for all
Destination weddings have become an increasingly popular choice for couples looking to bring a vacation vibe to their nuptials.
—Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 27 Jan. 2024
Seasoned lensman Stanley Babb, who shot Simone Biles' 2023 nuptials, gives his expert advice on wedding photography dos and don'ts
When planning a wedding, couples often put a lot of focus into details like the food or the fashion.
—Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 17 Jan. 2024
Here, Rallo chats with PEOPLE about her process and her dos and don'ts of dating, followed by an exclusive book excerpt.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, Peoplemag, 12 Dec. 2023
Après-ski Dos and Don'ts Like any culture, après-ski has its own list of dos and don'ts.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2023
The act amounts to a list of do's and don'ts that seeks to prevent tech giants from cornering digital markets, with the threat of whopping fines or even forcing Big Tech companies to sell of parts of their business to operate in Europe.
—Kelvin Chan, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Sep. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'don't.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to don't
Dictionary Entries Near don't
Cite this Entry
“Don't.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/don%27t. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Share