Can I use the "ll" contraction with proper names?

Question

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 English. It's also not pretty when spoken. In which case, is this construction valid in any dialect?

Why am I asking this? (some people seem to care): I'm translating a game I originally wrote in Japanese, into English. I have a native English speaker taking care of the dialogue, and a construction similar to the one I wrote above appeared on the text he sent me to check.

I'm not a native English speaker, so even though I have probably heard that contraction a handful of times in my life, I would like to know if it is correct English.

It also happens that my native English speaker is from Texas, so it occurred to me that this is probably common in the Texan dialect of English. I have never been to Texas, so I have no idea if this is right.

Answer 1

Short answer: yes. It'll be understood, and if it's seen as a mistake, it'd be one of register rather than of grammar.

Longer answer: contractions are informal by nature, so if you're asking about formal written English, then any contraction is frowned upon, whether it's "it's", "you're", or "John'll".

So we're clearly talking about less-than-formal English, where the rules (such as they are) get fuzzy.

• In spoken English, contractions are totally fair game. In fact, you really have to pay attention to even notice whether someone said "I am" or "I'm". The difference between "John will" and "John'll" is a bit more audible, but it's still perfectly fine to say the latter rather than the former.

• In written English, the contractions you choose to use, or not use, determine the level of informality. In this sense, "John'll" is a bit more informal than "you're", but there are very few contexts where the latter would be acceptable while the former wouldn't be.

Bottom line is, in an informal context such as a video game, usage such as "John'll" simply adds to the colloquial, informal nature of the dialogue/narration. It is not, in and of itself, a mistake.

Answer 2

If this is for dialogue in a video game, then why would it matter if it's formally correct?

What are you striving for? To mimic the way the characters would actually communicate? Or to write a script that would pass for formal prose?

Authors such as Mark Twain, Stephen King, and Harper Lee often used constructs like this to add a sense of realism to the dialogue in their books, knowing that people often speak in a less formal way than they might write polished text.

“Let him alone,” said Stuart Mordaunt. “His brother's absence has upset him, but Jim'll come round all right.” (Mr. Groby's Slippery Gift by Paul Laurence Dunbar)

“I think that cat'll outlive us all,” I said and patted Tim on the shoulder. (Night and the Cat by Alan Adler)

By striking such contractions from the video game, you run the risk of having language that might sound artificial and contrived.

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Incidentally, this is why you were asked about where you would use this, and why “people seemed to care.” If you were presenting at an academic conference, I think it would be a terrible idea to write Dave'll go next on one of your presentation slides. But that doesn't mean such informal phrasing should be removed from a video game dialogue. The theives in Grand Theft Auto don't generally speak like English gentlemen.

When you don't provide adequate context, the community cannot provide an accurate answer.

Answer 3

As a native English speaker, "John'll....." Is totally acceptable and not at all awkward to say. In a sentence where I wish to stress that John is definitely going to do something, without any doubt, then I will say "John WILL..."....otherwise I'll contract it. In natural connected speech, the "will" serving as helping verb will get reduced, and the resulting utterance is "'ll". This pronunciation poses a problem for non-native English speakers where the "dark L" is non-existent in their native language, but can be learned.