what is a contraction in essay writing

What are contractions in writing? Can you use contractions in formal writing?

Are you confused about word contractions: What they are , how to form them , and when you can and can’t use contractions in writing ?

These abbreviations are formed by putting together two words in order to make one shorter word, like “isn’t”, “can’t” or “I’m”.

Native English speakers use contractions every day without even thinking about it. But when you’re learning English, it can be difficult to know when to use contractions in order to sound natural. There are also some special considerations around the use of contractions in formal or academic writing .

This article will help you understand why and how contractions are used in English, and explain the grammar rules surrounding them, so you feel more confident knowing when you should or shouldn’t use word contractions yourself.

woman wondering when to use contractions in writing while writing an essay on a laptop

What is a contraction in English grammar?

Contractions in writing and speaking are formed by combining two or more other words into one. When writing contractions, an apostrophe replaces the missing letter(s) and the space between the original words disappears.

Most common contractions represent a pronoun + a verb (be, have, would), or a verb + ‘not’ . There are a few other possibilities that we will explain later on.

These are common examples of word contractions:

I am > I’m
They have > They’ve
Is not > Isn’t
She will > She’ll
Should not > Shouldn’t
Who would > Who’d

Find a full list of contractions at the end of this article.

Note that there is a finite list of contractions that you can use in English, and there are specific rules about how to use them, which we will look at in a moment. You cannot simply make up your own contractions from different word combinations whenever you feel like it.

You’ll find that in some cases, a contraction has two or three possible meanings. For instance, “he’d” can mean “he had” or “he would”. The context will tell you which is correct.

For example:

He’d only run half the race when he injured himself. (He had)
He’d love to visit Spain one day. (He would)
She’s very energetic. (She is)
She’s had a lovely day. (She has)

It’s possible that this contributes to incorrect phrases like ‘I wish I’d have done…’ ( ‘I wish I would have…’ is a colloquial but grammatically incorrect construction ) being confused with ‘I wish I’d done…’ (‘I had done’ is correct here).

Why are contractions used in English?

Some of the main reasons we use contractions are:

They shorten words, making it easier and faster to convey ideas as you speak and write
When speaking, they make words flow more naturally
When written, they make your writing seem more conversational and can help the reader feel included
In headlines and other texts where characters are limited, they help you add more information in fewer words.

When to avoid contractions in writing and speech

You will hear contractions used in most forms of speech, except in particularly formal settings.

When it comes to writing these words, contractions can be found in pieces of writing with a personal, conversational tone. The more often you use contractions in writing, the more casual it will sound.

In this article, for example, you’ll see that not every possible shortened form is used (note ‘it will’ in the sentence above), but we do use contractions to improve the flow of sentences and help the text sound as natural as possible.

In deciding whether to use contractions in your own writing, it’s important to consider the tone you wish to convey. A complete lack of contracted words will make your writing appear very rigid and formal.

Adding emphasis by omitting contractions

Another reason to omit a contraction is to add emphasis or strengthen a statement, often when contradicting what has just been said. This can be especially useful in written English when you can’t use your tone of voice to convey your message.

Let’s look at a few examples:

Girl: Dad, I’m going out on a date with my boyfriend tonight. Father: No you are not !

Friend 1: She won’t turn up tonight. Friend 2: She will come, I know it!

I have had enough! I can not work in these conditions any longer.

Can you use contractions in formal writing?

We use contractions in most spoken English, and in informal written English. They are less commonly used in professional and formal writing, and may be frowned upon in formal essays and scholarly writing because they make it sound too casual.

Although it’s often recommended that writers refrain from using contractions altogether in academic contexts, there are some notable exceptions where the use of contractions in formal writing is generally permitted:

When quoting someone directly: If their quote includes a contraction, you should not change it.
When using an idiom, saying, or proverb that contains a contraction: Some common phrases contain contracted words, and changing them would sound awkward. E.g. ‘Beggars can’t be choosers’ or ‘Time flies when you’re having fun’. Whether you should be using such colloquial phrases in formal writing is another matter!
When writing about contractions: Of course, if your writing is about the topic of contractions then it would be impossible to avoid using them to give examples.
When deliberately using a more casual, personal tone of voice: If you do decide to use contractions in formal writing for this reason, make sure it is intentional.

If you’re unsure whether using contractions is acceptable in a particular piece of writing – formal or otherwise – we’d recommend consulting your style guide, if you are using one. There are four main style guides used by writers in the US, with dozens more that you may encounter as a writer in specific niches.

In other semi-formal contexts, such as business presentations or company blog posts, the rules will depend on the company’s brand voice and the tone they wish to portray. Larger organizations should have a style guide that you can consult for further information about using contractions and other abbreviations .

Common mistakes and confusion with contractions

Having covered the basics of creating contractions and the general rules around when and when not to use them, let’s look at some of the more complex rules that often cause confusion.

Confusing contractions with possessive pronouns

This is a common mistake with contractions since some sound the same as possessive pronouns. For example:

They’re and their
You’re and your
It’s and its
Who’s and whose

These homophones cause confusion to even native speakers, but you can click the links above for more information about each one. The simple rule to remember is that possessive pronouns never contain an apostrophe.

To confuse matters further, we can also form contractions using a noun + ‘s, which ends up looking the same as a possessive noun. For example:

Trevor’s very kind. (Contraction – Trevor is)
Trevor’s wife is very kind. (Possessive – the wife of Trevor)

Just remember that if you can replace the “‘s” with “is”, you’re looking at a contraction. Otherwise, it is possessive.

‘Have’ sometimes can’t be contracted

The verb ‘have’ can be used in a number of different ways grammatically, and only in some of these may it be contracted.

You can contract ‘have’ when it is used to form present tenses (past or present) or as part of the phrase ‘have got(ten)’.

I’ve been driving for five hours. (I have been)
He’d taken three bites of the apple before realizing it was rotten. (He had taken)
We’ve got to think of some new ideas. (We have got)
She’d gotten to the point of no return. (She had gotten)
You’ve got two minutes to convince me. (You have got)

You cannot contract ‘have’ when it is used to indicate possession or necessity (have to).

I have one car. (Not “I’ve”)
He has black hair. (Not “He’s”)
They have to tell us the truth. (Not “they’ve”)
We have to be at the airport by 9pm. (Not “We’ve”)

This said, the ‘have to’ construction may occasionally be heard with contractions in British English, especially among older generations.

Using contractions at the end of sentences

You may have noticed that most of the example sentences so far feature contractions at the beginning. This is because the types of words that form contractions usually fall at the beginning of a sentence or clause.

There is one common exception, which is when giving a negative answer to a yes/no question using ‘not’. For example:

Q: Are you free tonight? A: Yes, I am . (Not “I’m”) A: No, I’m not / No, I am not .

Q: Would he like to join us? A: Yes, he would . (Not “He’d”) A: No, he wouldn’t / No, he would not .

In any other examples where a pair of words that could be contracted fall at the very end of a sentence, they should be kept separate. This can occur in indirect questions . For example:

I don’t know where you are . (Not “I don’t know where you’re.”)
Can you tell me how much it is ? (Not “Can you tell me how much it’s?”)

However, the sentence “I don’t know where you’re going.” is grammatically correct.

When a contraction can be formed two ways

Some sentences using “not” can be contracted in two different ways, for example:

She is not: She’s not / She isn’t
They are not: They’re not / They aren’t
You are not: You’re not / You aren’t

In these cases, there is no hard and fast rule about which construction to use, but you may choose one over the other because it makes the sentence flow more naturally. If you’re not sure which to use, try saying the sentence out loud with each contraction and see which one sounds better to you.

If you particularly want to emphasize “not” then use the first option in the examples above and leave “not” out of the contraction.

Double contractions with three words

Sometimes contractions can be used to shorten three words into one, resulting in two apostrophes to indicate where each join is made.

Here are some examples of double contractions:

I’d’ve (I would have)
Who’d’ve (Who would have)
That’ll’ve (That will have)
She’ll’ve (She will have)
Can’t’ve (Can not have)
Mightn’t’ve (Might not have)
Wouldn’t’ve (Would not have)
Shouldn’t’ve (Should not have)

These are even more colloquial than two-word contractions, and present another good example of when not to use contractions in writing, unless you are deliberately mimicking the way a person speaks.

See also: What’s the difference between who and whom?

Contractions and tag questions

One occasion when contractions should always be used in spoken and written English is in negative tag questions (those consisting of a positive statement with a negative tag).

He’s very handsome, isn’t he ?
We have $50 of our budget left, don’t we ?
You have brought the picnic mat, haven’t you ?

The alternative would be to say “is he not?”, “do we not?”, etc. Although these are grammatically correct constructions, they sound quite old-fashioned and it’s best to avoid them unless you are intentionally aiming for this tone of voice.

Contractions are often, but not always, used as part of the negative statement when the tag is positive.

Word contractions list

Here is a full list of common word contractions (except those using ‘not’, which are in a separate table below). We have noted those that are usually only spoken, rather than written.

If you need help knowing when to use shall or will , check our separate guide.

Next, here is a list of contractions using ‘not’:

Finally, here is a list of more unusual, colloquial contractions that don’t fit the patterns described above. Some are regional slang and others are old-fashioned words, so you may not hear them used often, and you should be cautious using them yourself unless you are confident of the appropriate usage.

You’ll see we have some single-word contractions as well as some contractions without apostrophes in this list.

We hope this comprehensive guide to contractions and how to use them has been helpful. This is one important aspect of how to use apostrophes correctly , but you can learn more in our full guide.

What is the best way to explain contractions?

Imagine a contraction as a word that’s made up of two other words squished together. In the squishing process, some letters are lost but the meaning stays the same. We use an apostrophe to replace letters that are dropped when forming contractions.

For example, “I am” becomes “I’m” and the “a” is replaced with an apostrophe. The same is true for “They have” becoming “They’ve”, except this time two letters are dropped.

Are contractions words?

Yes, contractions are a type of word. Although they are formed from two individual words, contractions are treated as single words in writing.

Which words are contractions?

You can identify a contraction as any word that contains an apostrophe and can be separated into two words by adding one or more letters where the apostrophe is while keeping the same meaning.

Some contractions, like “gimme” and “gonna”, do not contain apostrophes, but these are rare exceptions.

Why can’t you use contractions in essays?

Although contractions are freely used in everyday speech and informal writing, they are still considered inappropriate in formal pieces of writing like essays and research papers because they make them sound too casual.

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When to Use (and Not Use) Contractions

Use of contractions

Contractions, which are words in which some letters or sounds are omitted (e.g., don’t for do not ), are common in speech and informal usage but generally avoided in formal writing.

Informal: We don’t know what happened.
Formal: We do not have sufficient information yet to form a hypothesis.

Graphic titled "When to use contractions." The left panel shows a woman in an urban park, speaking on a mobile phone, saying "Hi, I'm Maya." The right panel has the following rules and examples. Use freely in speech and informal or creative writing. (Hi, I'm Maya. Don't worry. That's not my shoe. There's no right answer.) Avoid in formal writing. (Poor: We don't have sufficient data. Better: We do not have sufficient data.)

Contractions are often used and completely acceptable in everyday speech.

I’m happy to help.
She’s here.
I don’t know.
What’s that?

Only if you want to stress a certain word would you not use a standard contraction in speech and informal usage.

You do not want to get involved in this. The use of do not instead of the contraction don’t helps stress the adverb not .

In informal writing

In writing, contractions convey an informal tone and replace talking to the reader. They sound normal and natural in creative writing and personal communication.

I’m on my way.
That’s fine. Don’t worry.
It’s all right.
Sorry I couldn’t take your call.
Maya knew she shouldn’t answer, but she did.

In ad copy, marketing slogans, and other signage, contractions can help save space and make your message sound conversational and friendly.

Because you’re worth it. ( L’Oreal )
Let’s go places. ( Toyota )
There are some things money can’t buy; for everything else, there’s MasterCard. ( Mastercard )

In creative writing as well, contractions, which are common in speech, can make dialogue sound more natural.

“Now you said you’d do it, now let’s see you do it.” “ Don’t you crowd me now; you better look out.” “Well, you said you’d do it—why don’t you do it?” — Mark Twain , The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876)

In formal texts

Avoid using contractions in academic and other formal writing. Using the complete instead of contracted form lends an appropriate air of formality to the document.

Informal: We haven’t accounted for changes in pressure in this study. Formal: We have not accounted for changes in pressure in this study.
Informal: We couldn’t collect sufficient real-world data. Formal: We could not collect sufficient real-world data.
Informal: It’s important to account for bias. Formal: It is important to account for bias.
Informal: We haven’t reviewed the financial statements of the subsidiaries yet. Formal: We have not reviewed the financial statements of the subsidiaries yet.

Avoid using contractions in cover letters, personal statements, academic papers, business proposals, and legal documents.

Informal: I’d appreciate the opportunity to discuss this further with you. Formal: I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this further with you.
Informal: I’m hardworking and self-motivated. Formal: I am hardworking and self-motivated.

In negative questions

An exception is negative questions, in which contractions are used in both formal and informal usage.

Shouldn’t / Should not we wait until morning? “Should not we wait until morning?” would sound odd and archaic, even in formal usage.
Isn’t / Is not the sample ready yet?

Again, you may use the word not separately if you want to stress it.

Unstressed not : Aren’t you listening? Stressed not : Are you not listening? But not “ Are not you listening?”

Finally, always use the contracted instead of full form in negative question tags.

Poco said he’d call, didn’t he?
We should call back, shouldn’t we?

Share this article

Standard contractions are common and sound natural in everyday speech.

Will not is generally used in its contracted form in speech and informal usage ( won’t ). To emphasize the word not , the full form is used instead.

Contractions sound natural in dialogue, which represents a real conversation.

Contractions, which lend an informal tone to writing, are generally avoided in formal texts.

Negative contractions are used in questions in both formal and informal usage.

List of Contractions: What They Are and How to Use Them?

In this article, we’ll explore what contractions are, how they work, and when it’s appropriate to use them in your writing. We’ll also look at some common mistakes to avoid when using contractions and provide some tips for using them effectively. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, understanding contractions is an important part of mastering the art of written communication. So, let’s dive in and explore this fascinating topic together!

List of Contractions in English

List of Contractions: What They Are and How to Use Them?

Understanding Contractions

If you’ve ever read a book or watched a movie, you’ve probably come across contractions. Contractions are a type of abbreviation that combine two words by removing certain letters and adding an apostrophe. They are commonly used in informal writing and speech, but can also be found in more formal contexts.

A contraction is a shortened version of a word or phrase that is created by omitting one or more letters and replacing them with an apostrophe. Contractions are used to make speech and writing more concise, informal, and conversational. They are commonly used in English, particularly in spoken English, and can be found in a variety of contexts.

Types of Contractions

There are two main types of contractions: those that involve the omission of letters from the middle of a word and those that involve the omission of letters from the end of a word. Let’s take a closer look at each of these types.

Middle Contractions

Middle contractions involve the omission of one or more letters from the middle of a word. They are typically formed by combining a subject or auxiliary verb with a not or a pronoun. Here are some examples of middle contractions:

can’t (cannot)
won’t (will not)
shouldn’t (should not)
doesn’t (does not)
I’m (I am)
you’re (you are)

End Contractions

End contractions involve the omission of one or more letters from the end of a word. They are typically formed by combining a subject or auxiliary verb with a verb. Here are some examples of end contractions:

he’ll (he will)
she’s (she is)
it’s (it is)
we’ve (we have)
they’re (they are)

Usage of Contractions

When it comes to using contractions, it’s important to consider the context and tone of your writing. Contractions are commonly used in informal writing and speech, but may not be appropriate in formal writing.

In Formal Writing

In formal writing, such as academic papers, business letters, or professional emails, it’s generally best to avoid using contractions. This is because contractions can make your writing appear less professional and may detract from your credibility. Instead, opt for the full form of the words to convey a sense of formality and respect.

Here are some examples of contractions that you should avoid using in formal writing:

In Informal Writing

In informal writing, such as personal emails, text messages, or social media posts, contractions are more commonly used and are generally acceptable. Using contractions in informal writing can help to convey a sense of casualness and friendliness.

Here are some examples of contractions that you can use in informal writing:

Common Contractions

In English Language, contractions are commonly used to shorten phrases and make them easier to say. They are formed by combining two words and omitting one or more letters, which are replaced by an apostrophe. Here are some of the most common contractions used in English:

In English Language

It is important to note that not all words can be contracted. Typically, only small and common words, especially pronouns and modal verbs, can be contracted. Even though they represent multiple words, contractions act as a single word.

In Other Languages

Contractions are not unique to the English language. Many other languages also use contractions to shorten phrases and make them easier to say. Here are some examples of contractions in other languages:

Full List of Contractions

Here is an important list of contractions ESL students should study.

I would = I’d
You would = You’d
He would = He’d
She would = She’d
It would = It’d
We would = We’d
They would = They’d
That would = That’d
These would = These’d
There would = There’d
Who would = Who’d
What would = What’d
Where would = Where’d
When would = When’d
Why would = Why’d
How would = How’d
You are = You’re
He is = He’s
She is = She’s
It is = It’s
We are = We’re
They are = They’re
That is = That’s
These are = These’re
There is = There’s
Who is = Who’s
What are = What’re
Where is = Where’s
When is = When’s
Why is = Why’s
How are = How’re
I have = I’ve
You have = You’ve
He has = He’s
She has = She’s
It has = It’s
We have = We’ve
They have = They’ve
That has = That’s
These have = These’ve
There has = There’s
Who has = Who’s
What have = What’ve
Where has = Where’s
Why has = Why’s
How have = How’ve
I had = I’d
You had = You’d
He had = He’d
She had = She’d
It had = It’d
We had = We’d
They had = They’d
That had = That’d
These had = These’d
There had = There’d
Who had = Who’d
What had = What’d
Where had = Where’d
Why had = Why’d
How had = How’d
I will = I’ll
You will = You’ll
He will = He’ll
She will = She’ll
It will = It’ll
We will = We’ll
They will = They’ll
That will = That’ll
These will = These’ll
There will = There’ll
Who will = Who’ll
What will = What’ll
Where will = Where’ll
When will = When’ll
Why will = Why’ll
How will = How’ll

Contractions in Grammar

Contractions are a unique type of word that combines two or more other words in a shortened form, usually with an apostrophe. They take words that usually go together, like “can not” or “I have”, and then remove certain letters to shorten them and make other words, like “can’t” or “I’ve.” In this section, we’ll cover the rules and exceptions for using contractions in grammar.

Contractions are commonly used in informal writing and speaking. However, it is important to note that they are usually not appropriate in formal writing. Here are some general rules to follow when using contractions:

Use contractions in informal writing and speaking, such as emails to friends, text messages, and casual conversations.
Do not use contractions in formal writing, such as academic papers, business letters, or legal documents.
Use contractions only when they do not change the meaning of the sentence.
Use contractions with auxiliary verbs, and also with “be” and “have” when they are not auxiliary verbs.

Here are some examples of correct usage of contractions:

“I can’t speak Spanish .”
“It’s getting dark.”
“They’re not coming for dinner.”
“Our flight is at 7 o’clock.”

There are some exceptions to the rules for using contractions. In some cases, contractions can be used in formal writing to convey a more conversational tone. For example, in a personal essay or a blog post, contractions can be used to make the writing sound more natural and engaging.

Another exception is when using contractions in dialogue. When writing dialogue for a character, it is appropriate to use contractions to make the dialogue sound more realistic and natural. However, it is important to use contractions consistently for the same character throughout the dialogue.

Here are some examples of correct usage of contractions in exceptions:

“I’m sorry, but I cannot attend the meeting tomorrow.” (formal writing)
“I’ve been working on this project for weeks.” (personal essay)
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” (dialogue)

Frequently Asked Questions

How will I know when I am having contractions?

When you are having contractions, you will feel a tightening sensation in your uterus that comes and goes. You might also feel pressure in your pelvis or lower back. As labor progresses, the contractions will become stronger and more frequent.

What do early contractions feel like?

Early contractions can feel like menstrual cramps or lower back pain. They might be mild and irregular at first, but they will become stronger and more regular as labor progresses.

When do contractions start?

Contractions can start at any time, but they are most likely to start in the weeks leading up to your due date. If you are past your due date, your doctor might induce labor to help get things moving.

What do false contractions feel like?

False contractions, also known as Braxton Hicks contractions, can feel like mild cramping or tightening in your uterus. They are usually irregular and don’t become stronger or more frequent over time.

How do contractions feel when they first start?

When contractions first start, they might feel like mild menstrual cramps or lower back pain. As labor progresses, the contractions will become stronger and more intense.

What are the 4 stages of labor?

The first stage of labor is when your cervix begins to dilate and efface. The second stage is when you begin to push and your baby is born. The third stage is when the placenta is delivered. The fourth stage is the first few hours after delivery, when your body begins to recover.

Last Updated on November 14, 2023