Oughtn't

Oughtn't is a contraction of "ought not", used to express a moral obligation, advisability, or strong expectation of something *not* happening or *not* being done. It suggests a sense of propriety, correctness, or adherence to a rule or principle. It implies that failing to adhere to this expectation would lead to undesirable consequences, either directly or indirectly. While less commonly used than "shouldn't" or "mustn't", "oughtn't" carries a certain weight of societal or ethical expectation. It conveys the speaker's belief that the action in question is, or was, inherently wrong, inappropriate, or detrimental. The emphasis is on the implied duty or the right thing to avoid. It can imply that you have a responsibility or a higher degree of expectation from someone or some action.

Oughtn't meaning with examples

• The children oughtn't to have stayed out so late; their parents would be worried. We had explicitly warned them. We've all worried about this; it seems wrong. Their curfew was strictly enforced, so staying out this late was an action that was against what was expected, and we expected them to be there.
• You oughtn't to spend all your money on luxuries; you should save for a rainy day, the old saying goes! You really did not think this through, which is a great oversight. I can understand why you would want to, but it is clearly a mistake not to save.
• She oughtn't to have spread those rumors; it damaged people's reputations and friendships. We should all be much better than this. It was cruel and unnecessary; it was expected that she would be kind and considerate, and it was not.
• They oughtn't to drive after drinking alcohol. This law is in place for a reason, which makes the behavior unacceptable. Not following the law will create a potential risk to life, making this a terrible thing to do and should be avoided at all costs.
• We oughtn't to pollute the environment with waste. We are harming ourselves. Considering our dependence on the earth's well-being, the potential consequences of our actions are far-reaching. Such actions are destructive and should be avoided.