Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda: Using Apostrophes to Indicate Missing Letters
Last year, in one of our Word for Wednesday posts, Hugh took a look at some apostrophe catastrophes. Over the next two posts we’re going to take a look at how to use these sneaky little punctuation marks correctly.
What is a contraction?
A contraction is a shortened version of a word created by the omission of a sound. In writing, the omission of a sound (which is usually a vowel) is marked with an apostrophe.
It is important to note that while contractions are acceptable in conversation and informal writing, it is better to avoid them in formal writing.
What are some commonly used contractions?
Here is a list of contractions commonly used in English. Notice how the missing letters are replaced with an apostrophe.
are not – aren’t
could have – could’ve (not could of!)
cannot – can’t
could not – couldn’t
did not – didn’t
do not – don’t
had not – hadn’t
has not – hasn’t
have not – haven’t
he had/would – he’d
he shall/will – he’ll
he is/has – he’s
how did/had/would – how’d
I had/would – I’d
I shall/will – I’ll
I am – I’m
I have – I’ve
is not – isn’t
it is/has – it’s
let us – let’s
must not – mustn’t
shall not – shan’t
she had/would – she’d
she will/shall – she’ll
she is/has –she’s
should have – should’ve (not should of!)
should not – shouldn’t
that is/has – that’s
there is/had – there’s
they had/would –they’d
they will/shall –they’ll
they are – they’re
they have – they’ve
we had/would –we’d
we are – we’re
we have – we’ve
were not – weren’t
what shall/will – what’ll
what are – what’re
what is/has – what’s
what have – what’ve
where did/had/would – where’d
where is/has – where’s
who had/would – who’d
who shall/will – who’ll
who are – who’re
who is/has – who’s
who have –who’ve
will not – won’t
would have – would’ve (not would of!)
you had/would – you’d
you shall/will – you’ll
you are – you’re
you have – you’ve
What about ‘ain’t’?
Many contractions are the result of elision which is the omission (or ‘dropping’) of a sound when speaking in order to make pronunciation easier. You can really hear this in words like ‘shan’t’ and ‘won’t’ which do not sound like the words they are made up of (unlike ‘couldn’t’ or ‘she’s’). The point is ease of speech – ‘shan’t’ or ‘won’t’ roll much easier off the tongue than ‘shalln’t’ or ‘willn’t’!
As you can see above, many of these shortened words have become part of Standard English - ‘ain’t’, however, is not one of them. No matter how many times you hear ‘ain’t’ said aloud, you should never write it (unless, of course, you are writing a creative character piece).
Below is a list of slang contractions that you may hear (or even say!), but should never write:
ain’t – am not, is not, are not, have not (and in some dialects: do not, does not, did not)
gimme – give me
gonna – going to
gotta – got to
kinda – kind of
lemme – let me
wanna – want to
whatcha – what are you
In this age of technology, it’s particularly important to be vigilant about slang contractions because the lines between formal, informal and creative writing are increasingly blurred. While using ‘gonna’ in a personal blog post (or even a newspaper headline) might show character, it will almost certainly lose you marks in an exam, or convey unprofessionalism in a business environment.
Next week we’ll take a look at further uses of that annoying apostrophe – so stay tuned!
12 May 2014
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