aren't

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "aren't" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is a contraction of "are not" and is typically used when speaking in the negative form. Here are some examples of when "aren't" can be used in written English: 1. "There aren't many options for dinner tonight, let's just order pizza." 2. "I'm sorry, but you aren't allowed to bring outside food into the theater." 3. "Aren't you going to wear a coat? It's freezing outside." 4. "They aren't as experienced as we are, so we need to be patient with them." 5. "We aren't going to make it to the party on time, there's too much traffic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

If you aren't costing, you aren't engineering.

An Applied Guide to Process and Plant Design

They aren't.

The New York Times

Others aren't.

Harvard University

Most aren't.

Cornell University

Which aren't?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mine aren't.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

Viruses are not bacteria are not parasites.

The New York Times - Health

They were not and are not.

Independent

They are not regulated".

The New York Times

"These are not idiots.

The New York Times

"We are not puppets.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "aren't" in informal contexts to maintain a conversational tone. Avoid overusing it in formal writing where "are not" might be more appropriate.

Common error

Ensure the subject is plural or uses a plural pronoun before using "aren't". A common mistake is to use "aren't" with singular subjects, which is grammatically incorrect. Use "isn't" instead.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "aren't" is to formulate questions or negative statements in the present tense. It combines the verb "are" with the negation "not", serving as a contraction. Ludwig AI confirms its standard negative form usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

8%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Aren't" is a very common contraction of "are not", functioning to create negative statements or questions in informal contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and everyday usage. While prevalent in News & Media, Science, and Academia, it should be used judiciously in formal writing where expanding to "are not" may be preferable. Remember to ensure subject-verb agreement when using "aren't", avoiding its use with singular subjects. Alternatives include "are not", "isn't it true", or rephrasing the sentence for emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are not

Formal expansion of the contraction.

they are not

Specifies the subject, expanding the contraction.

is not

Change of verb conjugation for singular subjects.

am not

First-person singular form of negation.

isn't it true

Turns a statement into a question seeking confirmation.

is that not so

A more formal way of seeking agreement.

do not

Expresses a negative command or general statement.

does not

Third-person singular negative form.

that is false

Directly contradicts a previous statement.

that is incorrect

Formally states that something is wrong.

FAQs

How do you use "aren't" in a sentence?

"Aren't" is a contraction of "are not" and is used to form questions or negative statements. For example, "Aren't you coming to the party?" or "They aren't going to the game".

What's the difference between "aren't" and "are not"?

"Aren't" is the contracted form of "are not". "Are not" is more formal and typically used in writing or when emphasizing the negation. "Aren't" is more common in spoken English and informal writing.

When should I use "aren't" vs. "isn't"?

Use "aren't" with plural subjects or the pronoun 'you' (e.g. "They aren't ready" or "You aren't leaving yet"). Use "isn't" with singular subjects (e.g. "He isn't here" or "It isn't working").

What can I say instead of "aren't" to sound more formal?

In formal contexts, use the uncontracted form "are not". For example, instead of "They aren't invited", say "They "are not" invited".