Is AIN'T a word?

Is ain't a word? I've been scolded by English teachers for using that word. I've heard people snarkily say, "ain't ain't a word".

I tried looking it up at dictionary.com and, to my surprise, ain't is listed. It should be noted that dictionary.com describes ain't as "Nonstandard" (whatever that means).

So what say you - is ain't a word?

Ain't Ain't a word so I Ain't gonna say it

BAWL!

No, "ain't" isn't a word. It is a perversion of the English language and it and it's users should be stoned.Dracargen

It's in the dictionary.Wren28

I was just going to post that.

No, its not even a contraction. Its just...a non-word. That people use to replace "isn't" for some reason.. Under that logic, maybe I'll start replacing words with new, made up ones...Like instead of calling it a "shirt", I'll call it a "flugtag".

Yeah...flugtag.

Pronounciation key: Floo -(as in, oooh) g - tawg

No, its not even a contraction. Its just...a non-word. That people use to replace "isn't" for some reason.. Under that logic, maybe I'll start replacing words with new, made up ones...Like instead of calling it a "shirt", I'll call it a "flugtag".

Yeah...flugtag.

Pronounciation key: Floo -(as in, oooh) g - tawg

Fortier

No, its not even a contraction. Its just...a non-word. That people use to replace "isn't" for some reason.. Under that logic, maybe I'll start replacing words with new, made up ones...Like instead of calling it a "shirt", I'll call it a "flugtag".

Yeah...flugtag.

Pronounciation key: Floo -(as in, oooh) g - tawg

Fortier

Except your words aren't and won't be widely accpeted

No, its not even a contraction. Its just...a non-word. That people use to replace "isn't" for some reason.. Under that logic, maybe I'll start replacing words with new, made up ones...Like instead of calling it a "shirt", I'll call it a "flugtag".

Yeah...flugtag.

Pronounciation key: Floo -(as in, oooh) g - tawg

Fortier

When I first read the thread title "Is AIN'T a word?" I thought you were trying to say "Is ain't a word?" Yes, "is" is a word. :P

Words are words. Ginormous apparently is a word. It even passes GameSpot's spell check. I wouldn't worry about it too much because the dictionary is always subjected to change due to an increasing amount of vocabulary.

[QUOTE="Wren28"]It's in the dictionary.gasmaskman

I was just going to post that.

It's also in the Oxford English Dictionary...although, it does say it shouldn't be used in formal papers and such, lol.

No, "ain't" isn't a word. It is a perversion of the English language and it and it's users should be stoned.Dracargen

You means "its users"? "Its" is possessive.

[QUOTE="Dracargen"]No, "ain't" isn't a word. It is a perversion of the English language and it and it's users should be stoned.Genetic_Code

You means "its users"? "Its" is possessive.

pwned

The word "Ghetto Blaster" is in Websters dictionary. And I'm not joking go look it up.

Not, ain't is not a word. But you will find it in the dictionary...like "stupider" since they are used though incorrect.LJS9502_basic

I thought it was put into the dictionary a few years ago thus making it a word.PlasmaBeam44

We're finding that, yes, it is in several dictionaries. However, those dictionaries also include disclaimers like "Nonstandard" or "not to be used in formal writing", which doesn't really help settle the question of ain't being a word.

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]Not, ain't is not a word. But you will find it in the dictionary...like "stupider" since they are used though incorrect.Erasorn

Some dictionaries....or so I've been told by some users on here.

"Ain't" isn't a word.
Now lets all forget this and start saying flugtag.

for old, perky, fatass english majors, it is not.

for americans, it is. its just another contraction

[QUOTE="Erasorn"][QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]Not, ain't is not a word. But you will find it in the dictionary...like "stupider" since they are used though incorrect.LJS9502_basic

Some dictionaries....or so I've been told by some users on here.

my theory: if you can say it, and it means something to you, its a word. :)dEtHsLaYeR

I don't think I'd enjoy playing Scrabble with you.

[QUOTE="Dracargen"]No, "ain't" isn't a word. It is a perversion of the English language and it and it's users should be stoned.Genetic_Code

You means "its users"? "Its" is possessive.

No it isn't. "It's" is possesive.

No it isn't. "It's" is possesive.

Fortier

It's = it is.

Ain't isn't a word.

[QUOTE="Fortier"]

No it isn't. "It's" is possesive.

Oleg_Huzwog

It's = it is.

****. I admit defeat...

A language is only what it's speakers make of it, so yes

IT is not ? My GS Message board says my HTLM is not well-formed whatever that means

It's in the dictionary, but it sure ain't a word.

It seems to me that since every instance of "ain't" can be replaced with "isn't", the word is redundant.

If "ain't" is a word, then "y'all" must be a word too, right? If there's actually a proper english word for second person plural, I'd love to know it.