What Are Writing Contractions and Why Do They Matter?
Contractions in writing are shortened forms of two words combined into one word by dropping one or more letters and replacing them with an apostrophe. It involves the omission of internal letters and sounds. For example, “can not” becomes “can’t,” “will not” becomes “won’t,” “should not” becomes “shouldn’t,” and so on.
Contractions act as a single word. It demonstrates the two words combination. The contraction can’t be formed as whatever you want to be. It has definite spellings. Selecting the correct contraction as per the writing is a critical process.
Some of the casual examples are:
1.You are doing good.
2.You should not miss school.
- I would have lost the bus by getting late for further 2 minutes.
- I can not lie to her.
Contracted form:
1.You’re doing good.
2.You shouldn’t miss school,
3.I would’ve lost the bus by getting late for further 2 minutes.
4.I can’t lie to her.
Sometimes two words have exactly the same contracted form. For instance, I’d can be used as I would, and also I had. Its meaning can be understood by reading the whole phrase and extracting the meaning speaker or writer has intended.
The Art of Contractions: Knowing When and How to Use Them?
Contractions are commonly used in everyday speech and informal writing, but their usage can vary depending on the context and audience. In some cases, using contractions can make your writing sound more natural and conversational.
However, contractions are generally avoided in formal writing, such as academic essays, business correspondence, or legal documents, as they can appear too casual or unprofessional. It’s always important to consider the tone and style of your writing when deciding whether or not to use contractions.
List of common Contractions:
●Doesn’t (does not)
●It’s(it is)
●Can’t (cannot)
●We’re (are)
●That’s (that is)
●Won’t (will not)
How to use Contractions?
To understand the difference between the contractions, here is an example. The first paragraph contains no contractions and sounds lengthy and boring. On the hand, the second paragraph involves the use of contraction.
It makes the reader understand the text more clearly. Text will appear attractive, and the message will be conveyed effectively. It is recommended to make use of contractions in your daily writing and speaking when communicating informally. The use of contractions is not recommended on formal forums.
Here’s the example with and without contraction:
Without Contraction:
Sarah had been a genius student since she joined our institution. Later, it was realized that she cannot communicate well with others. I had done talking to her about the problem, but she refused to cooperate. I will be participating in the upcoming sports competition and asked her to join.
She should have made a better excuse, but she directly said no. I was not hoping for such a rude response from her. I am not forcing her. That is totally her decision, but she should have understood the fact that prospering in academics is not the only thing to work on.
With Contraction:
Sarah had been a genius student since she joined our institution. Later, it was realized that she can’t communicate well with others. I’d done talking to her about the problem, but she refused to cooperate. I’ll be participating in the upcoming sports competition and asked her to join.
She should’ve made a better excuse, but she directly said no. I wasn’t hoping for such a rude response from her. I ain’t forcing her. That’s totally her decision, but she should’ve understood the fact that prospering in academics is not the only thing to work on.
Colloquial Contractions
One type of contraction is the Colloquial contraction. They are the uncommon contractions used within some specific region and culture. For instance, if you write in Americal English, you can use y’all (you all) and ain’t (am not, is not, are not). However, it is not widely used in other languages.
Colloquial contractions are not part of proper English. Some individuals might find it difficult to understand them. It is recommended not to use them when writing for non-Americans.
Double Contractions
There are several people who use double contractions in their writing. However, it makes the text difficult to understand. People should not use double contractions. For instance, we have a sentence, “ I would not have visited London, it makes me financially broke.” To write this sentence in the contracted form, people write it as: “I wouldn’t’ve visited London, it makes me financially broke.” Double contractions include two apostrophes and show a combination of three words, unlike single contractions.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, contractions in writing are a powerful tool to convey a message effectively and efficiently. They make the text more natural and conversational, but their usage depends on the context and audience.
Contractions should be avoided in formal writing, such as academic essays, business correspondence, or legal documents, as they may appear too casual or unprofessional.
It is crucial to select the correct contraction according to the context and to avoid using colloquial or double contractions as they may make the text difficult to understand. In short, contractions matter, and using them wisely can improve the clarity and effectiveness of your writing.