Mayn't and mightn't

[Glizdka]

Can't, couldn't, won't, wouldn't, mustn't, and shouldn't all sound OK to me, but mayn't and mightn't don't seem right.

Should I not try to contract may not and might not into mayn't and mightn't respectively? Are they fine?

 

[teechar]

I use one of them quite a lot, and I don't think I've ever used the other. Can you work out which?

 

[Glizdka]

I use one of them quite a lot, and I don't think I've ever used the other. Can you work out which?

Mightn't is the former, and mayn't is the latter.

 

[jutfrank]

I very occasionally use mightn't too but I wouldn't advise any learner to use it.

Nobody uses mayn't, as far as I know.

So no, don't use them.

 

[bubbha]

"mayn't" sounds like it might be used in certain non-standard dialects or in 18th-19th century English.

 

[GoesStation]

Few Americans ever say mustn't or mightn't.

 

[Glizdka]

Few Americans ever say mustn't or mightn't.

Mustn't?! Is that a typo or you actually mean to say you don't really use mustn't?

 

[jutfrank]

Few Americans ever say mustn't

Like Glizdka, I'm shocked I've never noticed that. That's really useful to know.

Can you say any more about which speakers might and who, um, mightn't?

 

[GoesStation]

Mustn't?! Is that a typo or you actually mean to say you don't really use mustn't?

It isn't generally used in American English. We say must not. Mustn't sounds "British" to us.

I think it may persist in New England, but I'm really not sure. I can't recall ever having heard an American use that contraction.

This happens, I think, because we rarely use must to indicate a requirement. We use have to instead.

 

[SoothingDave]

The idea that there is a word "mightn't" and people actually use it is all new information for me.

"Mustn't" is unusual but at least I've heard it before.

 

[GoesStation]

In one of his less inspired moments, former Prime Minister Tony Blair launched a competition in search of a motto for the United Kingdom. One of the leading proposals was …

Mustn't grumble.

 

[SoothingDave]

"Mustn't" sounds like a scolding.

 

[bubbha]

"mustn't" is pretty normal sounding to me (American).

The first "t" is silent. It sounds like "mussent".

 

[Glizdka]

"mustn't" is pretty normal sounding to me (American).

The first "t" is silent. It sounds like "mussent".

This is why i spelled it musn't for a good portion of my life.

Thank you for your replies. I will continue not using mayn't and mightn't.

 

[teechar]

For those who are not familiar with "mightn't" and how widespread its usage is, take a look at the following. You'll see that it's used all over the English speaking world.

https://fraze.it/n_search.jsp?q=mightn't&l=0

 

[jutfrank]

For those who are not familiar with "mightn't" and how widespread its usage is, take a look at the following. You'll see that it's used all over the English speaking world.

https://fraze.it/n_search.jsp?q=mightn't&l=0

Yes, that's a nice resource. It includes texts from the UK, US, New Zealand, and Australia.

 

[emsr2d2]

"Mustn't" is certainly used in BrE. I've never heard or used "mayn't". I recall my grandfather (born in 1921) using "mightn't" but I don't think I've heard it from anyone younger.

 

[GoesStation]

For those who are not familiar with "mightn't" and how widespread its usage is, take a look at the following. You'll see that it's used all over the English speaking world.

I can only surmise that most of the examples from American publications were written by people from other parts of the Anglosphere or, if written by Americans, by authors who had lived abroad.

 

[jutfrank]

"Mustn't" is certainly used in BrE. I've never heard or used "mayn't". I recall my grandfather (born in 1921) using "mightn't" but I don't think I've heard it from anyone younger.

So nobody under 99 years old, then? :-D

 

[teechar]

I'm no young fish, but I sure ain't that ancient.