Cool MateDoesn't matter vs It doesn’t count
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Doesn't matter
Top 2,000 (common)
It doesn’t count
Top 2,000 (common)
| Doesn't matter | It doesn’t count | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈdʌzənt ˈmætə//🇺🇸 //ˈdʌzənt ˈmætɚ// | 🇬🇧 //ɪt ˈdʌznt kaʊnt//🇺🇸 //ɪt ˈdʌzənt kaʊnt// |
| Meaning | It's not important. | It doesn't matter or is not included. |
| Example | I can go to the party or not; it really doesn't matter to me. | I tried to cheat on the test, but the teacher said it doesn’t count. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | doesn't matter how, doesn't matter what, doesn't matter when | it doesn’t count as valid, it doesn’t count towards the score, it doesn’t count in the competition, it doesn’t count in the agreement |
| Antonyms | matters, is important, is relevant | - |
| Common mistakes | Omitting 'not' (saying 'do matter')., Using in overly formal contexts., Misunderstanding the tone, which can sound dismissive. | Using 'count' in the wrong tense, like 'counts' instead of 'count'., Confusing 'count' with 'amount' in specific contexts., Not using 'it' correctly as a subject. |
| Usage notes | Use when something is unimportant or irrelevant. Avoid in formal writing. | Commonly used to dismiss something as unimportant. Appropriate in casual discussions, but can be abrupt in formal situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Doesn't matter vs It doesn’t count
What's the difference between Doesn't matter and It doesn’t count?
Doesn't matter: It's not important. It doesn’t count: It doesn't matter or is not included.
Can you show an example of each?
Doesn't matter: I can go to the party or not; it really doesn't matter to me. It doesn’t count: I tried to cheat on the test, but the teacher said it doesn’t count.
Can I use Doesn't matter and It doesn’t count interchangeably?
Not always. Doesn't matter and It doesn’t count are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.