How Do You Spell SHOULDN'T?

Pronunciation: [ʃˈʊdənt] (IPA)

The word "shouldn't" is a contraction of "should not." It is spelled with an apostrophe to represent the omission of the letter "o" in "not." The pronunciation of this word is /ˈʃʊdnt̬/. The first sound is the "sh" sound, followed by the short "u" sound, and the "d" sound. The final sound is a combination of the "n" sound and the "t" sound, which together create the nasalized consonant sound /nt̬/. Overall, "shouldn't" is a frequently used contraction in English that follows common orthographic and phonetic patterns.

SHOULDN'T Meaning and Definition

  1. Shouldn't is a contraction of the words "should" and "not". It is an auxiliary verb used to indicate a lack of duty, obligation, or necessity for a particular action or behavior. It expresses a negative expectation or advice, suggesting that something is not the right course of action or is not advisable.

    When used in statements or commands, shouldn't is employed to convey that someone is not obligated or expected to execute a specific action. It implies that the action or behavior in question is considered improper, unwise, or inappropriate. For example, "You shouldn't eat too much candy before dinner" indicates that it is not recommended to consume an excessive amount of candy before the main meal.

    In questions, shouldn't is used to seek advice or confirmation about the appropriateness or wisdom of a potential action. It asks whether an action is considered the right or preferred choice. For instance, "Shouldn't we leave early to avoid traffic?" seeks confirmation or agreement that leaving early is the sensible or preferred option.

    In summary, shouldn't is a contraction indicating the lack of obligation or advisability for a specific action or behavior. It is commonly used to warn against or discourage certain actions and seeks advice or confirmation about the appropriateness or wisdom of potential actions.

Top Common Misspellings for SHOULDN'T *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for SHOULDN'T

Etymology of SHOULDN'T

The word "shouldn't" is a contraction that combines the verb "should" and the negative marker "not".

The term "should" originates from the Old English word "sceolde", the past tense of "sceal", which meant "ought to" or "must". In Middle English, "sholde" became the standard past tense form, and eventually evolved into "should".

The negative marker "not" comes from the Old English word "nāwiht", meaning "not at all" or "nothing", which was eventually shortened to "not".

Over time, the contraction "shouldn't" emerged to represent the negative form of "should", indicating something that is considered improper, unadvised, or not in accordance with expectations.

Idioms with the word SHOULDN'T

  • I shouldn't wonder The idiom "I shouldn't wonder" is used to express a mild disbelief or surprise about something, suggesting that the speaker finds it highly likely or probable. It implies an acknowledgement of a possibility while also indicating that the speaker would not be surprised if the statement or situation being discussed turned out to be true.
  • shouldn't happen to a dog The idiom "shouldn't happen to a dog" is used to express extreme adversity or unfortunate circumstances that are unjust or unbearable for someone or something. It implies that the experience described is so bad that even a dog, often thought to have a tough life or low expectations, should not have to endure it.
  • people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones The idiom "people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones" is a warning or advice that suggests individuals should not criticize or judge others when they themselves have vulnerabilities or flaws that could be exposed or used against them. It emphasizes the idea of avoiding hypocrisy or being mindful of one's own shortcomings before pointing out the faults of others.
  • people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones The idiom "people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones" means that one should not criticize or make fun of others for faults or mistakes when they themselves have similar faults or make similar mistakes. It is a cautionary reminder to practice self-reflection and humility before judging others.

Infographic

Add the infographic to your website: