ICER

My little girl insists that the word ain't is not a word, while 'worser' is, although I have shown her many dictionaries’ proving my point. She still says that not all dictionaries have al the words. So I put it to you. The whole forum if there is such a word.

__________________
What's the difference between congress and a penitentiary?
One is filled with tax evaders, blackmailers and threats to society.
The other is for housing prisoners.
~~David Letterman

Coppertop

Worser - again

Ain't - again

Artsemis

If i recall correctly, "aint" was added to websters in the past 4-5 years sometime

__________________

- Artsemis
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There are two keys to being the best:
1.) Never tell everything you know

shakran

well if i recall one dictionary (oxford I think) recently added bling and shizzle to its list of words. That doesn't mean they're real words

deekaybee

what's a real word? If it has a definition, then surely it's a real word. The dictionary only defines the words, not make suggestions if it should or should not (aint) be used.

__________________
It's not that I don't care, it's just that I don't care enough!

Amano

well they're words in that they have definitions but they are by no means standard english. in the links coppertop gave, "aint" is listed as "colloquial or illiterate speech" which I think speaks for itself. and "worser" is listed as an old word. definitely not something you'd use in everyday or formal writing.

snowy

Quite correct, my friend. Colloquial speech is an entirely seperate matter from proper English. "Ain't" is not a word one would use in a term paper, therefore it should not be "standard" English. Colloquial speech can best be described as "slang" or "easy" English, English particular to a region or area, or English used in speaking. It is not the English one would use in a job interview or in speaking upon a serious subject. Therefore it is widely discounted. However, it does have some academic merit and is worth studying if only on a linguistic level. As for "worser", while it certainly may be an older word--as proven by our equally old friend Will Shakespeare--it is not a word to be taken seriously. Old forms fall out of fashion as do dresses. So let's put "worser" aside with the hoop skirt and call it good. It is not acceptable in today's speech, and if a fellow student submitted it to me in a paper to be proofread, I would point out their error. Please differentiate between spoken English and written English. I do not mind if a person uses "ain't" or "worser" in their spoken slang, but to do so in a formal academic paper is heresy.

__________________
If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

flat5

The words may add to a phrase emphasis, color or meaning.
They may be the best words available.

They probably are not needed in a scientific paper but
"it ain't necessarily so".

Coppertop

As always onesnowyowl, another excellent post. I just knew you'd show up and school us.