CONTRACTIONS

By definition, a contraction is an abbreviated version of a word or words.

Examples of Contractions

In English, there are two main types of contractions:

(1) Contractions that replace the missing letter(s) with an apostrophe (').

These contractions are formed by shortening a word or combining two words into one.

Examples of these contractions:

- I am - I'm

- do not - don't

- can not - can't

- should not - shouldn't

- he is - he's

- he has - he's

These kinds of contractions are also grouped into:

(i) Positive Contractions. For example: I'm, He's, we've.

(ii) Negative Contractions: For example: Doesn't, isn't, aren't, haven't.

(2) Contractions that are formed by compressing or cutting off a word.

These contractions do not use apostrophes. Most of these contractions end with a full stop.

Examples of these contractions:

- Doctor - Dr.

- Mister - Mr.

- Mistress - Mrs.

- Professor - Prof.

- Reverend - Rev.

LIST OF COMMON CONTRACTIONS IN ENGLISH

Here is a list of common contractions in English:

Contraction Full Version of Word

aren't - are not
can't - cannot
couldn't - could not
didn't - did not
doesn't - does not
don't - do not
hadn't - had not
hasn't - has not
haven't - have not
he'd - he had, he would
he'll - he will, he shall
he's - he is, he has
I'd - I had, I would
I'll - I will, I shall
I'm - I am
I've - I have
isn't - is not
it's - it is, it has
let's - let us
mustn't - must not
shan't - shall not
she'd - she had, she would
she'll - she will, she shall
she's - she is, she has
shouldn't - should not
that's - that is, that has
there's - there is, there has
they'd - they had, they would
they'll - they will, they shall
they're - they are
they've - they have
we'd - we had, we would
we're - we are
we've - we have
weren't - were not
what'll - what will, what shall
what're - what are
what's - what is, what has
what've - what have
where's - where is, where has
who'd - who had, who would
who'll - who will, who shall
who're - who are
who's - who is, who has
who've - who have
won't - will not
wouldn't - would not
you'd - you had, you would
you'll - you will, you shall
you're - you are
you've - you have

THINGS TO CARE ABOUT CONTRACTIONS

There are seven (7) common issues about contractions.

(1) Use a period if the last letter of the contraction and the full word are different. For example: Prof and Professor do not share the same letters, so we put the period at the end of 'Prof.'

(2) Do not use a period if the last letter of the contraction and the full word share the same letter. For example: Dr and doctor share the same last letters. Therefore, this contraction doea not require a period.

(3) In the UK, truncated contractions (For example: "Prof.") attract periods, but the compressed ones (e.g. "Mr") do not.). So, in UK, only the truncated versions are written with a period.

(4) Using contractions in business writing.

Many people still consider contractions to be informal and inappropriate for business writing. Therefore, contractions are best avoided in business documentation, especially if you're writing about something serious and you're unsure of your readership.

(5) Pick a convention for putting periods (full stops) after contractions like Dr/Dr. and Mr/Mr. and stick to it.

(6) If you think you can get away with using contractions in business writing, do it.

(7) Confusing contractions with other words.

The following contractions are often confused with other words:

It's/its.

You're/your.

They're/there/their.

REFERENCE

https://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/contractions.htm

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