don't include

USAGE SUMMARY

"Don't include" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to tell someone not to include something in a list, project, or discussion. For example, "Don't include any of my personal information in the report."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Just don't include me.

The Guardian

Don't include footnotes.

The Guardian

Rentals generally don't include unlimited miles.

The New York Times - Travel

(These figures don't include classified research).

The New Yorker

(The OECD data don't include Portugal.

The Economist

But those prices don't include parking.

The New York Times

And those figures don't include Indian casinos!

The New York Times

The numbers don't include federal income taxes.

The New York Times

The scrutiny committees don't include everybody.

The Guardian

Prices don't include shipping unless stated.

The New York Times - Food

Those dangers don't include surging inflation.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "don't include" when providing criteria for selection, clearly defining what is unacceptable.

Common error

Avoid using "don't include" without specifying the scope. Clearly define what should be excluded to prevent misinterpretation. Always clarify what "don't include" refers to in a given context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "don't include" functions as an imperative, directing someone to omit specific items or information. This is confirmed by Ludwig, which shows examples across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Wiki

36%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "don't include" is a very common and grammatically correct imperative phrase used to instruct the omission of specific items or details. As indicated by Ludwig, it appears across various contexts from news and media to wikis and scientific writing. The phrase is typically neutral in register and serves to provide clear instructions, as confirmed by Ludwig AI's analysis of numerous examples. When using "don't include", ensure clarity and specificity to avoid misinterpretation. Consider more formal alternatives like "exclude" for professional settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

leave out

A more informal way of saying to exclude something.

don't put in

Informal way to say not to include something.

exclude

Suggests preventing something from being part of a group or list.

don't list

Specifically instructs against listing something.

do not add

Directly instructs against adding something.

avoid including

Suggests taking steps to prevent something from being included.

omit

Implies leaving something out intentionally.

refrain from adding

A more formal instruction to not add something.

remove

Indicates taking something away from what is being considered.

disregard

Means to ignore or pay no attention to something, effectively excluding it.

FAQs

How do I use "don't include" in a sentence?

You can use "don't include" to give instructions about what to omit from a list or document. For example, "When submitting your application, "don't include" irrelevant information."

What's a formal way to say "don't include"?

A more formal alternative to "don't include" is "exclude". For instance, "Please "exclude" any personal opinions from the report."

What can I say instead of "don't include" in an email?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "omit", "leave out", or "do not add". For example, "Do not add any attachments to the email."

Is it correct to say "doesn't include" instead of "don't include"?

"Doesn't include" is used with singular subjects, while "don't include" is used with plural subjects or when giving a direct instruction. For example, "The price "doesn't include" shipping costs" versus "Don't include any personal information in the form."