When you look up the word on dictionary.com, it states a definition: Nonstandard except in some dialects . am not; are not; is not. It also notes: As a substitute for am not, is not, and are not in declarative sentences, ain't is more common in uneducated speech than in educated.
Examples:
I ain't going anywhere.
She ain't say that.
I ain't thinking about him.
This suggests that the "correct" usage of ain't is saying am not, are not, or is not. People use this word in their everyday conversation. Should it be accepted as a spoken word of the "Standard English" language? Does using this word classify you as being uneducated....?
How conincidental... my mother, too, always told me "ain't... ain't a word." Many times during conversation amongst friends and family, we want to be relaxed and comfortable; we like to not be in a constant search for words that may sound appealing, are of higher level vocabulary, or words that are of "Standard English." English is a language continuously evolving, and now-a-days individuals creates words that have no application to theory actually meaning. For example, everyone one knows the new term "ratchet".... "you ratchet" as they (the people who say it) say it. Essentially, they are calling the proper noun "a tool" because that is what "ratchet" means, nonetheless, it is a socially (amongst certain people... preferably not your boss) acceptable term (although often offensive and is the victim of malapropism) like using the word ain't. If the ain't is used in the right place, at the right time then sure it is correct and for the mist part acceptable, however, if usage of such a word were at a formal event than that individual would be looked upon as uneducated even though technically it was a word forced into the dictionary. The question of "Aint.... ain't [being] a word" is, like many, a situation of duplicity - there is simply no right answer. =>
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