that doesn't count

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that doesn't count" is correct and usable in written English
You can use it to emphasize that something is not important or significant. For example: "I already ate all the cookies, but that doesn't count because it was for a good cause."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Informal

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Don't come in second or third – that doesn't count – but win, win, win".

Independent

So that's an average £230 a week that doesn't count towards the cap.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Oh that doesn't count as I was only 13," Holly answered.

The Guardian - Books

There's not a vote that doesn't count, and this race has definitely shown it".

The New York Times

More and more, that doesn't count for much.

Forbes

Its grunt work that doesn't count on anyone's fantasy roster.

Huffington Post

Now more than half couldn't live without one--and that doesn't count laptops.

Huffington Post

If Stewart is watching and abides, that doesn't count as "coordination".

Huffington Post

"Calling an individual member on an unsecure line - that doesn't count".

Huffington Post

That doesn't count".

The New York Times - Arts

I guess that doesn't count".

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In conversational writing, use it to add a natural, rhythmic quality to dialogue or opinion pieces.

Common error

Avoid using "that doesn't count" without a clear antecedent. If the reader cannot identify what "that" refers to, the exclusion loses its impact. Ensure the preceding sentence clearly defines the action or item being dismissed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that doesn't count" serves as a declarative exclusionary statement. It functions as an independent clause where "that" is the demonstrative pronoun subject, "doesn't" is the negated auxiliary verb and "count" is the intransitive main verb. According to Ludwig AI, it is used to signify that a specific action, item or argument is being excluded from a total or is deemed invalid within a specific context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Conversational

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

3%

Legal

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "that doesn't count" is a staple of the English language, appearing with high frequency in everything from sports commentary to economic analysis. Ludwig AI data reveals that it is most prevalent in News & Media, where it serves as a concise tool for invalidating arguments or excluding data points. Whether you are writing a casual blog post or a professional report, this phrase effectively communicates that a particular element is being disregarded. While perfectly acceptable in most contexts, writers should be mindful of using clearer alternatives like "<a href="/s/is+not+applicable" target="_blank" rel="alternative">is not applicable" in strictly formal academic papers. Overall, it remains a robust, correct and highly recommended expression for establishing logical boundaries.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that doesn't qualify

Commonly used in administrative or technical contexts when something fails to meet specific criteria.

that's excluded

Very direct and objective; emphasizes the act of removal from a group or list.

that is irrelevant

Focuses on the lack of connection to the current topic rather than the validity of the action itself.

it doesn't matter

A more general way to say something has no impact or importance.

that is beside the point

An idiomatic way to dismiss an argument as off-topic.

that is not valid

Moves toward a more legalistic or logical dismissal.

that is not applicable

Formal and technical; used when a rule or situation simply does not apply.

it is disregarded

More formal and passive, often used in scientific or data-heavy reporting.

that carries no weight

A metaphorical way to say a piece of evidence or an argument lacks influence.

that's out of bounds

Metaphorical, deriving from sports; indicates something is outside the rules.

FAQs

How do I use "that doesn't count" in a sentence?

You can use it to dismiss a specific instance, for example: "I practiced for an hour, but <a href="/s/that+doesn't+count" target="_blank" rel="alternative">that doesn't count because I wasn't focused."

What is a more formal way to say "that doesn't count"?

In formal writing, you might prefer phrases like "<a href="/s/that+is+not+eligible" target="_blank" rel="alternative">that is not eligible" or "<a href="/s/it+is+not+considered+valid" target="_blank" rel="alternative">it is not considered valid" depending on the context.

Is "that doesn't count" grammatically correct?

Yes, it is perfectly correct. It uses the standard contraction of "does not" and the intransitive sense of the verb "count", which means to have value or importance.

What's the difference between "that doesn't count" and "it doesn't matter"?

While similar, "<a href="/s/that+doesn't+count" target="_blank" rel="alternative">that doesn't count" specifically implies something is being excluded from a tally or set of rules, whereas "<a href="/s/it+doesn't+matter" target="_blank" rel="alternative">it doesn't matter" suggests that the outcome is unchanged regardless of the item's presence.