What Are Contractions?

contraction a shortened word or phrase with one or more apostrophes that replace(s) missing letter(s).

Contractions have been part of the English language for centuries. Nowadays even in many formal documents, occasional use is permitted. Without them, text seems stilted.

We rely on contractions in speech. Transferring that custom to our writing creates realistic narrative.

Beware of contractionitis, though.

Multiple Meanings Often Obscure a Writer’s Intent

Apostrophe-d can replace had, did, or would.

Apostrophe-s might replace is, was (incorrect, but sometimes heard in dialogue), or has.

Will readers understand what lurks behind the apostrophe?

Review the following guidelines. They could help prevent confusion.

Guideline #1: When Had Indicates Possession, Write It in Full

He’d too many apples in the basket.

The first instinct a reader has when reading he’d is to expect had or would in their function as an auxiliary verb.

He had too many apples in the basket.

The edited version resolves ambiguity.

Guideline #2: When Apostrophe-s Replaces an Emphatic Is or Has, Write the Verb in Full

“Jillian’s going.”

In this example, the speaker could be reading through a list of prospective party guests and crossing off the names of those who have confirmed.

“Jillian is going.”

Here we see what could be a response to another person’s insistence that Jillian won’t be at the party.

Guideline #3: Eliminate Confusion About Verb Tense

Claire’s gone.

This could be either present or past tense. Removing the contraction prevents uncertainty when context is vague.

Claire is gone.

Claire has gone.

If people have to stop even for a millisecond to puzzle over words, they become distracted. Any pause disrupts the flow. Do this too often, and you lose readers.

Guideline #4: Avoid Apostrophe-s Contractions With Names or Capitalized Nouns

Susan’s written …

Readers might interpret apostrophe-s in this situation as indicating possessive case.

The phrase could start sentences like:

Susan’s written work is difficult to decipher because of her messy handwriting.

Susan’s written several books about protecting the environment.

The second sentence would be better if rewritten without the apostrophe-s:

Susan has written several books about protecting the environment.

Dialogue is always an exception. Keep it realistic but understandable.

Guideline #5: Remember That Apostrophe-ve Is Short for Have, Not Of

The full form of should’ve is should have not should of. There is no such phrase as should of. That also applies to could of and would of.

I would’ve gone if I had known.
I would have gone if I had known.

You should’ve tipped the server.
You should have tipped the server.

You could’ve at least tried.
You could have at least tried.

Yet another reminder: Dialogue should sound authentic.

Guideline #6: Avoid Complex, Nonstandard, or Unusual Contractions

Any word or phrase that slows comprehension detracts from narrative. The following contractions and their relatives create confusion. Evaluate carefully before using them.

Yes, they’re real. Google them if you need proof.

amn’t: am not

couldn’t’ve: could not have

hadn’t’ve: had not have

he’d’ve: he would have

he’dn’t’ve: he did/would not have

he’sn’t: he is not

I’d’ve: I did/would have

I’dn’t: I did/had/would not

I’dn’t’ve: I did/would not have

I’ven’t: I have not

it’d’ve: it did/would have

it’dn’t: it did/had/would not

it’dn’t’ve: it did/would not have

mustn’t’ve: must not have

she’d’ve: she did/would have

she’dn’t: she did/had/would not

she’dn’t’ve: she did/would not have

shouldn’t’ve: should not have

somebody’d’ve: somebody did/would have

somebody’dn’t’ve: somebody did/would not have

someone’d’ve: someone did/would have

someone’dn’t: someone did/had/would not

something’d’ve: something did/would have

something’dn’t: something did/had/would not

something’dn’t’ve: something did/would not have

there’d’ve: there would have

there’dn’t: there did/had/would not

there’dn’t’ve: there would not have

they’d’ve: they did/would have

they’d’ven’t: they would have not

they’dn’t: they did/had/would not

they’dn’t’ve: they did/would not have

we won’t’ve: we will not have

we’d’ve: we did/would have

we’dn’t: we did/had/would not

we’dn’t’ve: we did/would not have

who’d’ve: who would have

won’t’ve: will not have

wouldn’t’ve: would not have

you’d’ve: you did/would have

Guideline 7: Note the Exceptions

If you’re making a direct quote, even though the quote contains incorrect punctuation or is difficult to interpret, the misused contraction(s) should stay. This includes letters and diaries penned by characters as well as other written or quoted material, whether fictional or true.

Clichés and idioms often include contractions. Treat them as direct quotes. Platitudes like the following lose their appeal if converted to complete words:

Don’t give up your day job.

Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

If it’s not one thing, it’s another.

It’s a small world.

It’s anyone’s call.

You can’t judge a book by its cover.

Guideline #8: Remember that Contractions Do Not Belong in Legalese

Every word in documents such as wills, mortgages, and partnership agreements must be unambiguous. A misinterpretation could cause unintended consequences.

Read Your Work Out Loud

Listening to your words will often pinpoint areas where contractions seem natural, and others where they don’t.

Exercise Caution With Search-And-Replace

In your zeal to reduce the number of contractions in your work, you might be tempted to run a blanket search-and-replace.

Don’t.

Examine every occurrence individually, or prepare yourself for unexpected glitches.

For example, searching for instances of n’t and replacing with [space] not produces the following results:

Won’t becomes Wo not.

Can’t becomes Ca not.

Ain’t becomes Ai not.

Worse yet, word flow suffers:

Why didn’t you say something? becomes Why did not you say something?

The correct wording should be Why did you not say something?

More examples follow. Each set begins with the original sentence, followed by the search-and-replace result, and ending with the human-corrected version:

Aren’t you coming?
Are not you coming?
Are you not coming?

Don’t you think?
Do not you think?
Do you not think?

Why can’t he come?
Why ca not he come?
Why can he not come?

Why hadn’t he told the truth?
Why had not he told the truth?
Why had he not told the truth?

Perhaps someday scientists will develop computer algorithms that can analyze a writer’s style and make appropriate decisions without human intervention.

Test Your Knowledge

Correct the following sentences. Because no context is provided, base your answers on the most extreme misunderstandings readers might demonstrate.

#1. Last Will and Testament’ve John Doe.

#2. William’s gone to the store.

#3. I’d a banana for my mid-morning snack.

#4. Connie’s grown daughters.

#5. No matter what Shelby says, Timmy’s going.

#6. A leopard cannot change its spots.

#7. Something’dn’t add up.

#8. Many writer’s sell their book’s on Amazon.

Answers

#1. Last Will and Testament of John Doe.

[See Guidelines 5, 6, and 8.]

#2. William is/has gone to the store.

[See Guidelines 3 and 4.]

#3. I had a banana for my mid-morning snack.

[See Guideline 1.]

#4. Connie has grown/adult daughters.

[See Guideline 4. Even after removing the contraction, adult is a better word choice than grown.]

#5. No matter what Shelby says, Timmy is/is going.

[See Guidelines 2, 3, and 4.]

#6. A leopard can’t change its spots.

[See Guideline 7.]

#7. Something didn’t add up.

[See Guideline 6.]

#8. Many writers sell their books on Amazon.

[Writer’s and book’s are not contractions. They are plural forms and don’t require apostrophes.]

See also: 16 Confusing Words and Phrases to Monitor in Writing.