A contraction is a shortened version of the written and spoken forms of a word, syllable, or word group, created by omission of internal letters.
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votes
1answer
41 views
Meaning of “How'd you know?”: “would”, “did”, or “do”?
Does the question "How'd you know" mean:
How do you know?
How did you know?
How would you?
3
votes
2answers
244 views
Can I use the “ll” contraction with proper names?
Can I contract "will" as "ll" when preceded by a proper name? For example:
John will visit you tomorrow
John'll visit you tomorrow
I am inclined to think this is not acceptable in standard ...
-3
votes
0answers
61 views
's 's ?! Works or not? [closed]
If we are talking about hats for example.
Mine is blue.Tom's is white.
Can I use the contraction of is in the previous sentence.
So it'll be like this 'Tom's 's white' !!
Is it grammatically ...
3
votes
2answers
866 views
Is “could've” or “should've” standard English?
As the title says — is "could've" or "should've" standard English or is it slang and should correctly be spelled "could have" and "should have"?
3
votes
0answers
153 views
Are compound contractions proper grammar?
I've been told that compound contractions like couldn't've and I'd've are proper grammar. Are they?
6
votes
3answers
1k views
Is “what’s” a correct short form of “what does”?
E.g. “What’s he think?”
Usually ’s is short for “is” so I don’t know.
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votes
2answers
81 views
Why are contractions considered unprofessional?
I've heard people specify not to use contractions in order to maintain a degree of professionalism. I've heard this mentioned by fellow students while in school as well.
I've never heard this with ...
-1
votes
0answers
31 views
There's, He's, there're, you're, what're, they're, she's [duplicate]
There's, He's, there're, you're, what're, they're, she's
vs
There is, He is, There are, You are, What are, They are, She is
While writing a story, like novel, what is the rules in terms of following ...
-2
votes
1answer
75 views
Is “should've” a word? [closed]
I've used the word many times but different sources say different things. Is it recognized as a word in the British standard?
14
votes
4answers
2k views
What phrase is “o'clock” contracting?
I have been intrigued by the word o'clock since I learned English. Although there is an equivalent to this word in my native language (Spanish en punto meaning on point or on the dot) I want to know ...
2
votes
2answers
145 views
What’s the word for the habit of writing “play’d” or “revolv’d”?
I’m working on an 18th-century manuscript, and I’m trying to explain to others the use of ’d in past tense verbs.
Is there a word that encompasses the usage of ’d in early 18th-century manuscripts? ...
2
votes
2answers
378 views
Is a possessive noun a contraction?
I was told not to use contractions in an essay.
My classmate wrote "the argument of Emily" but I preferred "Emily's argument".
He disagreed and claimed "Emily's" is a contraction.
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votes
4answers
80 views
“There is” vs. “there are” when contracted [duplicate]
Unless I am mistaken, when referring to a single thing or entity, one can say there is or there's (the contraction of the same). When referring to more than one of something, the correct wording is ...
5
votes
5answers
2k views
Why is “ain't” not listed in dictionaries?
Google finds 52,000,000 matches for ain't but non-natives simply can't look up this word. Wiktionary isn't helpful.
Is it some kind of 'wildcard' for am/is/are not?
2
votes
3answers
429 views
Is “e'er” a true English word?
Are poetic contractions, such as "e'er", "o'er" and "ne'er" (and other less common ones), English? As in officially recognized?
2
votes
5answers
3k views
3
votes
3answers
347 views
Were contractions used in spoken English in 18th-century London?
I am currently writing a story set in London of 1795. I am trying my best to avoid linguistic anachronisms in the dialogue, but I have had difficulty finding reliable resources regarding spoken ...
0
votes
0answers
44 views
When to use “programming's” vs. “programming is” [duplicate]
My sentence can be said as:
Programming is fun.
and it can also be said as:
Programming's fun.
Both seem to be correct. When should I use one instead of the other?
1
vote
0answers
107 views
Contradictory Idioms [closed]
I stumbled across some contradictory idioms, and it made me wonder how many idioms can be contradicted with other idioms! Some that I've collected so far:
The pen is mightier than the sword
...
2
votes
4answers
820 views
Is “that've” a valid contraction for “that have”?
Is "that've" a valid contraction for "that have"?
For example, the sentence: "I've been working with some substances that've been detrimental to my health."
It follows the patterns of other similar ...
8
votes
6answers
2k views
Difference in pronunciation between “your” and “you're”?
I'm a native English speaker (Texas counts, I suppose), and I pronounce "your" to rhyme with "core", and "you're" to rhyme with "cure". Is it just me or did I pick this up somewhere?
5
votes
1answer
111 views
Why does the “e” in judge vanish in the word “judgment”?
The in the word "judgment", the "e" from "judge" is absent. Three questions on this:
Why is this?
Is there a name for such a contraction?
How and why does the "g" still retain its "soft" ...
8
votes
1answer
461 views
What is the possessive form of “y'all”?
I generally hear y'alls's used as the possessive form, but I have also heard yourn. Since y'all is a colloquial pronoun, its possessive form is basically liberated from prescriptive linguistics which ...
0
votes
2answers
152 views
Has the contraction “you’re” finally been replaced by “your”?
Your is almost universally used these days for you’re (“you are”). Is the misuse of your a result of ignorance, or is the contraction now formally dead?
11
votes
5answers
6k views
“that” + “would” = “that'd”?
Is "that'd" an appropriate contraction of "that" and "would"? I say it, but I'm not sure if it's a legitimate contraction in written form.
0
votes
1answer
233 views
“What say we [suggestion (verb phrase)]”
I would like to understand the history of the modern expression “what say we” followed immediately by a verb phrase, used to make a suggestion and common in informal speech, as attested at Oxford ...
11
votes
4answers
1k views
4
votes
2answers
1k views
When did “y'all” become improper?
It is my understanding that the contraction y'all was considered correct American English in times past. At what point was this word removed from valid American English?
3
votes
2answers
1k views
Should contractions be avoided in formal emails?
In a formal email of the kind where you begin with "Dear Mr. Surname" and finish with "Best regards", for example, should we use the following contractions? Or are the non contracted forms more ...
0
votes
1answer
92 views
Using contractions like “I'm” in text [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Using contracted forms (“don’t”, “let’s”) in a formal text
Are contractions like "didn't" forbidden in written English?
Usage of contractions like ...
2
votes
6answers
6k views
“won't” vs. “wouldn't”
Are these two words interchangeable? How do you know when to use one or the other?
For some sentences it is easy to know which one to use, but not for others. The type of sentences that are difficult ...
1
vote
2answers
167 views
Why is an apostrophe used in the genitive “-’s”?
The English possessive isn’t a contraction, but rather a relic of the grammatical case system, so why is an apostrophe used in (most) forms of the possessive?
5
votes
2answers
804 views
Tag Questions “is he not”
"He is happy, isn't he?"
If you did not use the contraction isn't he, in the question above, would the correct sentence be:
"He is happy, is he not?"
"He is happy, is not he?"
Sentence #1 seems ...
3
votes
3answers
228 views
Is “ain’t” slang, or is it colloquial instead?
Does using the word ain’t in a song make it slang, whereas using it in a speech make it colloquial?
1
vote
1answer
218 views
“If you don't do it, I'll”. Why does that sentence feel so awkward? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is there some rule against ending a sentence with the contraction “it’s”?
Earlier today while writing a very informal email, I expressed:
If you don't do it, I will.
...
19
votes
5answers
2k views
Is there some rule against ending a sentence with the contraction “it's”?
I heard this lyric in a song the other day and it just sounded so wrong that I assumed it must be incorrect grammar, but I can't find any specific prohibition that applies.
That's what it's.
...
1
vote
2answers
168 views
Explanation for “them's”
Recently someone said to me:
Them's the rules
I thought he had the sentence wrong, but as it turns out it is slang. I am learning English as a second language and I would really appreciate if ...
-1
votes
5answers
574 views
“that's why” in formal essays
"I'm", "it's" are forbidden in formal essays.
Can I use "that's why" in the opening of my Statement of Purpose?
Fancy flights used to fill me with euphoria, that's why I named myself Joseph, but ...
25
votes
6answers
6k views
What is “won't” a contraction of?
"Don't", "wouldn't", "couldn't" and "isn't" are all contractions of "do not", "would not", "could not" and "is not"... So what's "won't" a contraction of?
It appears to be "will not", but if so, why ...
1
vote
3answers
174 views
There isn't and there is no [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“There is no rule” vs. “there isn’t rule”
If I'm not mistaken, both "There isn't a storm." and "There is no storm." have the same meaning.
I understand that the first ...
1
vote
2answers
318 views
“I wouldn't ever” vs. “I would never”
The two expressions from the title, “I wouldn't ever” and “I would never”, are very similar. But are they completely equivalent or do they bear any subtle differences? If so, how do they differ in ...
0
votes
0answers
62 views
English Grammar [closed]
Can we use I Doesn't? or is it just I don't? Which one will be professional?Is is there any mistake if we use either of these?Kindly provide me the feedback if there is any grammar mistake in the ...
4
votes
8answers
2k views
Are contractions like “didn't” forbidden in written English? [duplicate]
Possible duplicate of:
Using contracted forms (“don't”, “let's”) in a formal text
Usage of contractions like “it's” and “that's” in textbooks
Should ...
2
votes
2answers
119 views
Use of contractions in an exam
I am teaching Intermediate Level English to exam students in Spain and I have been asked when is it correct to use contractions. I am of the understanding that, in an oral or written exam, it would be ...
4
votes
2answers
586 views
“I won't” vs. “I'll not”
I won’t and I’ll not are both short forms of I will not. Both are used in English.
Are there any situations where one is preferred over other?
2
votes
1answer
915 views
What's wrong with this sentence? [closed]
I've noticed a few times recently that a generic, but well known text editor seems to be flagging up stuff that I'm sure is correct.
For example, in the below sentence, the generic, but well known ...
1
vote
1answer
233 views
Usage of “ain't” in formal conversation
Is it okay to use ain't in formal conversation?
I know ain't can be used for am not, is not, are not, have not, has not. So if I can use it in day-to-day life, it will be easier for me I guess.
9
votes
2answers
809 views
Apostrophes in contractions: shan't, sha'n't or sha'nt?
I came across the word sha'n't when reading Winnie the Pooh the other day and it cast me into a Thoughtful Mood concerning the Appropriate Spelling of this word.
This word is a contraction of "shall ...
1
vote
4answers
485 views
“There is no rule” vs. “there isn't rule”
What are the differences between the two sentences below:
There is no rule.
There isn't rule.
11
votes
3answers
9k views
Were contractions less common in olden days?
We just viewed the new movie True Grit. The language of the characters was more formal sounding than we are used to, largely because of the absence of contractions. Is this historically accurate? Do ...
