Contractions in Writing
Use contractions whenever you want to take a conversation tone, contractions are the way to go. When writing dialogues for a short story, a phrase like “Don`t you have it?” seems more natural than “Don`t you have it?” In marketing, it has been common for decades to use everyday language models to communicate effectively with customers. (Compare McDonald`s slogan “I`m lovin` it” to “I am loving it.”) Contractions are part of informal writing. Therefore, avoid contractions in scientific writing, except in the following circumstances: Even the Chicago Manual of Style recommends the use of contractions in writing, saying, “Most types of writing benefit from the use of contractions” (5,103). You may think that contractions cannot be used in the canons of literature, but this conversational approach appears in literary masterpieces, from Beowulf to Moby Dick and Great Expectations to Ulysses, modern bestsellers, and more (see examples below). Most English teachers say that contractions should never be used in writing, at least not in formal writing (see here, here and here). Contractions have been around for a very long time – in English, until the emergence of the language itself, when the Angles and Saxons invaded the British Isles and mixed local Celtic dialects with their Germanic languages (Germans love contractions and compound words). People use contractions both orally and in writing. They are so common that movies and books often try to make the characters look old-fashioned or strange by never using contractions. It`s a bit silly because English speakers have been using contractions for centuries – but not always the same ones we use today. Contractions of the following three words are not so common (at least in writing), but they are excellent: To get an idea of the strangeness of not using contractions, write a scene with the next prompt without using a single contraction. We rely on contractions in a normal conversation all the time.
When people talk to each other, they are usually expected to use contractions (can, don`t want, shouldn`t) whenever they can, as it saves time. Knowing how to use contractions is an important grammar rule. And if you know how to use them properly – and when you ignore them – you`ll probably write a better story. – However, if you think that contractions are a modern invention, proof that the English language goes to dogs, you could not be more wrong. But first, what are contractions? Is there a list of contractions? In informal writing (from text messages and blogs to memos and personal essays), we often rely on contractions to maintain a familiar tone. In more formal writing assignments (such as academic reports or session papers), avoiding contractions is a way to establish a more serious tone. A contraction is a word or phrase that has been shortened by omitting one or more letters. When writing, an apostrophe is used to indicate the position of the missing letters. Contractions are often used in language (or written dialogue), informal forms of writing, and where space is scarce, such as in advertising. In English, there are a fairly small number of contractions, and they are all made up of common words. Here are some of the contractions you`ll see the most: But MLA warns that context is important: “Contractions may not be suitable for all types of formal writing — like a research paper learning protocols for formal writing.” MLA also says there are “countless other examples” where contractions would not be appropriate. According to the APA, you should refrain from using contractions for class work, theses, dissertations, etc.
These are formal tasks, and your writing style and tone should reflect that. The Cambridge Dictionary agrees, stating that “the use of contractions in formal writing is generally unacceptable.” Here is a list of contractions we found in the literary canon. If you`ve ever written an essay or research paper, you`ve probably been told not to use contractions. But what about written contractions? If you`re writing a book, can you use them? Is it different in academic writing and in academic writing? Traditionally, the use of contractions in academic writing has been strictly prohibited. You may remember a teacher who, at one point, told you never to use them. However, great academic style guides have different opinions on whether contractions are acceptable. .