Ain’t
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I have often wondered why there is no contraction for am not . It seems that ain’t was such, but it probably fell into disrepute because it was used indiscriminately with the first, second, and third persons, singular and plural.
In my own opinion ain’t is preferable to the totally incorrect aren’t I, which is beginning to be used more and more, most probably for lack of a proper contraction and our proclivity to save time in our conversations.
The Times should start the advocacy of using ain’t but in a corrected form, a’n’t , since there is no i present in am not . I a’n’t too hopeful this will catch on!
SHIGEO YUGE
Los Angeles
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