Erik Gjertsen
One Grammar question

One Grammar question.
Do not vs don’t, when can I use Do not and when can I use don’t.
I have googled it and they says, “If it is more formal you shall not use the contraction”.
And “do not” is stronger than “don’t”. And don’t is more an slang we use when we speak.
Is that correct?

Jul 28, 2015 1:47 PM
Comments · 2

I'm a native english speaker. They both mean the same thing. "Do not" can be used more in a authoritative tone. You can use this on children or rules, so they can better understand the emphasis of a "no". "Don't" is just a shorter term and used more easily and loosely to shorten the sentence. 

 

The same goes for "You are" and You're" 

 

"We are" or "We're"

 

The first part is always more clearly stated. More so to get the point across.  I hoped I helped you. :)

 

 

 

 

July 28, 2015

'Don't' is NOT slang. It's standard neutral English - the contracted form of 'Do not'. It is the normal form to use when we are speaking. We use 'don't' in all situations when we are speaking - in both informal and formal contexts. The only time we say 'do not' is to add emphasis to what we are saying, for example to show that we are angry or that we want to contradict someone in a forceful way.

 

In written English:

Do not = formal

Don't = informal/neutral

 

In spoken English:

Don't = neutral

Do not = emphatic

July 28, 2015