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The phrase "Most of it's in English" is grammatically correct (it's short for "Most of it is in English"), but it doesn't feel right. Is there a reason it doesn't feel right?

Edit: The thing I'm concerned about is "it's" versus "it is".

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This may be a better question to ask in English Language & Usage Chat. How it feels to you may be different than how it feels to others. – MrHen Jul 25 '11 at 2:36
@MrHen: Not sure why the fact that different people may feel differently about a usage means it's not valid for OP to ask about it. Seems just as on-topic to me as, for example, "How offensive is 'cock-up' to Americans"? – FumbleFingers Jul 25 '11 at 4:20
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Perhaps the question about "That's what it's" is relevant (that question is also about "it is" versus "it's"). Or perhaps not. – ShreevatsaR Jul 25 '11 at 5:26
@ShreevatsaR: It's. (Relevant, that is) – Andrew Grimm Jul 25 '11 at 6:30
@ShreevatsaR: That would be more relevant if we were discussing "Most of it's" as a possible reply to "Is it in English?". But we're not. – FumbleFingers Jul 25 '11 at 11:53
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2 Answers

up vote 5 down vote accepted

Sure it's right, and it's usual enough. It means, of course, that some communication is in a mix of languages, but that the majority thereof is being communicated in the English language.

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Agreed -- seems like a perfectly normal, boring utterance of English... – Neil Coffey Jul 25 '11 at 3:09
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Perhaps the reason it doesn't feel right is because even in the 'contracted' form it has four repetitions of the short "i" sound.

Personally I find the full form (with five repetitions) quite difficult to say quickly.

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