Three Simple Rules of Using Contractions You Must Know
The way you use contractions (e.g. Do not vs Don’t) tells your reader a lot about you. If you are not clear on how to use them,
You will convey that you haven’t done a lot of writing in your life
Your language may sound unnatural
Your sentences may lose some of their power
You may even waste a job opportunity
So, What Are Contractions, Anyway?
Contractions are a way of using an apostrophe to splice two words into one, eliminating a syllable. For example :
Do not = Don’t
Have not = Haven’t
We are = We’re
Three Simple Rules to Know When To Use Which
Rule 1
The More Formal Your Writing, the Less Frequently You Should Use Contractions
If you’re writing an email to your new classmate, you could write:
“Hey, Chuck. We’re going out tonight. Don’t be shy and join. I should’ve called you yesterday, but couldn’t.”
This is fine because Chuck is your classmate. He won’t be offended at the use of a contraction or two in every sentence.
If you’re writing a cover letter to include in your resume, then it’s a different story:
“I am confident in my abilities and do not like to slack off. I should have emailed you first. I could not imagine a better job than the one I am applying for.”
These sentences may not be masterpieces of cover letter writing, but they illustrate several cases in which contractions could be used, but were not. Also, it is better to limit your use of contractions in college essays. When not sure, just don’t use a contraction.
Rule 2
Listen to the Music of Your Sentences
Sometime a contraction just sounds better than not using one:
I do not know a better way to say this.
Or
I don’t know a better way to say this.
Which one sounds a little better?
I have not done any work yet.
Or
I haven’t done any work yet.
Again – which sentence sounds better to you? The second one in each example is a better choice because it’s easier to pronounce and is, therefore, better received, especially in speech.
Rule 3
Avoid Contractions When Trying to Emphasize a Point
No, you do not want to be late again!
Here, we’re emphasizing the word not and , therefore, should write the word in full.
I have not been unfair!
Again, we’re emphasizing the word not, and shouldn’t contract.
He is coming tomorrow (instead of “He’s coming tomorrow”).
We’re emphasizing that he is in fact showing up as opposed to not showing up.
Finally, Two Contraction Mistakes to Avoid like the Plague:
1. Writing should of instead of should’ve
If it sounds like “should of,” just write should’ve – plain and simple.
2. Writing your instead of you’re
If you mean you are, then write you’re
If you mean “yours” as in “it belongs to you,” then use your
If you make these simple rules your own, you’ll enjoy:
Better grades
More respect from professors who are tired of these mistakes and poor style
A better job, if you’re smart when writing your cover letter
Question? Comments? Post ‘em here.
Tutor Phil
Comments
Sonyasays
Hi, Tutor Phil!
Thank you VERY MUCH for yor comment!It really cheered me up.
In fact, I asked you to edit my essay after having submitted it to my teacher. She said the conclusion was quite weak – something’s wrong with my opinion. That’s the part I didn’t understand. My mark is B, but she promised to raise it a bit if I find other mistakes.
About grammar: sorry, but are you sure there are only two mistakes? My groupmate checked the essay and found much more – mostly incorrect sentence structure and awkward words (actually, I was even ashamed to show it to a native speaker after that).Could you check it once more, please?
Thanks for the link – I do need it.
Here’s my take on your essay and the grade you got:
First, I really don’t see anything wrong with your sentences, except for a few minor things, such as:
“Sometimes my brother’s overconfidence clearly has clearly negative effects. This summer he decided to fix some minor wrecks problems/bugs on my computer. ”
Yes, sometimes your language will betray foreignness. If you want me to get deep into it, I will. But here’s the real issue. Let me ask you this: what is your goal? Is it to write in perfect English as if it is your native language in one semester? Or is it to get an A in this course? Which one do you think is more practical?
You see, you could spend a lot of time going through your sentences and still keep getting B’s. Why? Because the real reason you got a B is not your sentences.
The real reason you got a B is that you were not 100% clear about what your professor wanted from you in the first place. And in order for you to start getting A’s not only in this class, but in other classes in which writing essays is required, you must address real issues that prevent you from succeeding. Not that B is not a good grade – don’t get me wrong. In fact, in my class, your essay would get an A- or a B+, and mostly because of that nasty run-on sentence I pointed out to you.
Here’s what I’d like you to do:
1. Talk to your professor, even better via email, and ask her what exactly a narrative essay is. Also ask what a good conclusion paragraph looks like, in her opinion. Write this stuff down.
Then, either email it to me, or post it here so I could take a look at it. This is the most important step.
2. If you have any descriptions of the essay requirements anywhere on your syllabus or class notes, post them here, too. This will help.
Remember, in college as in life, do things that matter most. Major in major things. Got it? 😉
By the way, are you receiving my newsletter? If not, go to the link below, sign up, and get your freebie. You’ll have my email as well in case you want to contact me that way.
“regardless of what your teacher wants, this essay is crystal clear and is filled with relevant and strong support for your thesis.”
Sonya, what Phil says is absolutely correct. That was a wonderful essay. Your teacher should be “over the moon” to have such a good student in his class. I bet you will go on to make him eat his words sometime in the near future.
My understanding is that an apostrophe in a contraction takes the place of a letter or letters. My question is, what part of speech is the word that’s being shortened? (examples: is in that’s, have in I’ve, not in shouldn’t, etc.) And is there a grammatical rule for this?
The word that is being shortened is usually a verb or the word ‘not.’
As for the grammatical rules – of course there are. I didn’t want to get into them and make the whole article too technical. For the rules, just google something like ‘grammatical rules for using contractions.’
I have an outline but don’t know if this is the correct way to start it off
Essay Outline
Topic sentence: I would teach everyone in the world to speak, read and write in English.
Thesis: I will teach everyone in the world to speak, read and write in English in several ways. First of all, everyone in the world will be able to pronounce words in English. Everyone would be able to speak simple words until they have the language well known to be able to communicate properly. Everyone will be able to read any information and able to understand it at the same time.
Sub1: Everyone doesn’t have to struggle in learning the English language.
A. It would be easier for everyone to communicate with each other in English.
B. It will show everyone a simple and easy way in learning the language by providing them with resources to practice the simple words with each other.
C. Teach everyone in the world is to practice the language at least once a week to get the hang of it.
Sub2: I will teach and help everyone in the world to understand the language and be able to write simple words.
A. I will teach and help them write long sentences and connecting sentences.
I have an employment contract to review prior to accepting a position as an English teacher at a private school. Though I don’t intend on mentioning what feels like an error to my potential employer, I am unable to find a “rule” that supports my belief other than the one you stated above about not using contractions in formal writing. I’m not sure that is actually a “rule”. Here is the sentence in question:
“These are not cumulative, that’s, the teacher will get one or the other but not both.”
The contraction “That’s” just feels really wrong, even if it were not in a formal writing. Is there a more established rule on this than just “sounds wrong”?
First, you’re right – don’t even mention anything to the employer. But there are two problems in that sentence.
The first and the bigger one is that the sentence is a comma splice – a kind of a run-on sentence in which two clauses are spliced by a comma. A semicolon after “cumulative” would correct the error.
And second – “that is” is an idiomatic expression. So you don’t contract it. It sounds weird because “that is” is always used in complete form. It’s like “the reason is…” You wouldn’t say “the reason’s” instead because almost nobody ever contracts it like that.
Contractions are grammatically correct, and their use in formal writing is simply discouraged. That’s all 🙂 No other hard and fast rules, really.
Thanks for the question and best of luck with the position!
I am 37 years old now, but as a young man I dropped out of middle school, now I find myself catching up on the education I once missed. I did manage to get my GED, Joined the Marines, and eventually built my confidence to go back to school. I am now five classes away from getting my bachelors degree; I couldn’t thank you enough for filling in part of the missing gaps of my missed education, it’s small videos like these that help others understand the basics. Thank you so much Tutor Phil. Your Initiative is greatly appreciated.
Dear Tutor Phil
You forgot to mention that you should never finish a sentence with a contraction. It is one of the most important rules for using contractions we’ve. You might not think you are getting it wrong but you’re.
I paraphrase your previous rule: if it sounds wrong it’s.
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Hi, Tutor Phil!
Thank you VERY MUCH for yor comment!It really cheered me up.
In fact, I asked you to edit my essay after having submitted it to my teacher. She said the conclusion was quite weak – something’s wrong with my opinion. That’s the part I didn’t understand. My mark is B, but she promised to raise it a bit if I find other mistakes.
About grammar: sorry, but are you sure there are only two mistakes? My groupmate checked the essay and found much more – mostly incorrect sentence structure and awkward words (actually, I was even ashamed to show it to a native speaker after that).Could you check it once more, please?
Thanks for the link – I do need it.
Sonya,
Here’s my take on your essay and the grade you got:
First, I really don’t see anything wrong with your sentences, except for a few minor things, such as:
“Sometimes my brother’s overconfidence clearly has clearly negative effects. This summer he decided to fix some minor wrecks problems/bugs on my computer. ”
Yes, sometimes your language will betray foreignness. If you want me to get deep into it, I will. But here’s the real issue. Let me ask you this: what is your goal? Is it to write in perfect English as if it is your native language in one semester? Or is it to get an A in this course? Which one do you think is more practical?
You see, you could spend a lot of time going through your sentences and still keep getting B’s. Why? Because the real reason you got a B is not your sentences.
The real reason you got a B is that you were not 100% clear about what your professor wanted from you in the first place. And in order for you to start getting A’s not only in this class, but in other classes in which writing essays is required, you must address real issues that prevent you from succeeding. Not that B is not a good grade – don’t get me wrong. In fact, in my class, your essay would get an A- or a B+, and mostly because of that nasty run-on sentence I pointed out to you.
Here’s what I’d like you to do:
1. Talk to your professor, even better via email, and ask her what exactly a narrative essay is. Also ask what a good conclusion paragraph looks like, in her opinion. Write this stuff down.
Then, either email it to me, or post it here so I could take a look at it. This is the most important step.
2. If you have any descriptions of the essay requirements anywhere on your syllabus or class notes, post them here, too. This will help.
Remember, in college as in life, do things that matter most. Major in major things. Got it? 😉
By the way, are you receiving my newsletter? If not, go to the link below, sign up, and get your freebie. You’ll have my email as well in case you want to contact me that way.
How to Add 300 Words to Any Essay in 15 Minutes
P.S. And by the way, you never told me what course you are taking. Is this ESL, English 1, or…?
“regardless of what your teacher wants, this essay is crystal clear and is filled with relevant and strong support for your thesis.”
Sonya, what Phil says is absolutely correct. That was a wonderful essay. Your teacher should be “over the moon” to have such a good student in his class. I bet you will go on to make him eat his words sometime in the near future.
My understanding is that an apostrophe in a contraction takes the place of a letter or letters. My question is, what part of speech is the word that’s being shortened? (examples: is in that’s, have in I’ve, not in shouldn’t, etc.) And is there a grammatical rule for this?
You understand correctly.
The word that is being shortened is usually a verb or the word ‘not.’
As for the grammatical rules – of course there are. I didn’t want to get into them and make the whole article too technical. For the rules, just google something like ‘grammatical rules for using contractions.’
Thanks for the comment,
TP
Dear Tutor Phil,
You may want to add another mistake to avoid: should of is not English. Should have is.
thanks u heiped me do my homework
I need some help with my essay and don’t know what to put my third idea on what to teach everyone in the world.
Read some other articles and especially watch the videos on this site – you’ll learn a lot about how to use the Power of Three.
Cheers 🙂
I have an outline but don’t know if this is the correct way to start it off
Essay Outline
Topic sentence: I would teach everyone in the world to speak, read and write in English.
Thesis: I will teach everyone in the world to speak, read and write in English in several ways. First of all, everyone in the world will be able to pronounce words in English. Everyone would be able to speak simple words until they have the language well known to be able to communicate properly. Everyone will be able to read any information and able to understand it at the same time.
Sub1: Everyone doesn’t have to struggle in learning the English language.
A. It would be easier for everyone to communicate with each other in English.
B. It will show everyone a simple and easy way in learning the language by providing them with resources to practice the simple words with each other.
C. Teach everyone in the world is to practice the language at least once a week to get the hang of it.
Sub2: I will teach and help everyone in the world to understand the language and be able to write simple words.
A. I will teach and help them write long sentences and connecting sentences.
I have an employment contract to review prior to accepting a position as an English teacher at a private school. Though I don’t intend on mentioning what feels like an error to my potential employer, I am unable to find a “rule” that supports my belief other than the one you stated above about not using contractions in formal writing. I’m not sure that is actually a “rule”. Here is the sentence in question:
“These are not cumulative, that’s, the teacher will get one or the other but not both.”
The contraction “That’s” just feels really wrong, even if it were not in a formal writing. Is there a more established rule on this than just “sounds wrong”?
Diana,
First, you’re right – don’t even mention anything to the employer. But there are two problems in that sentence.
The first and the bigger one is that the sentence is a comma splice – a kind of a run-on sentence in which two clauses are spliced by a comma. A semicolon after “cumulative” would correct the error.
And second – “that is” is an idiomatic expression. So you don’t contract it. It sounds weird because “that is” is always used in complete form. It’s like “the reason is…” You wouldn’t say “the reason’s” instead because almost nobody ever contracts it like that.
Contractions are grammatically correct, and their use in formal writing is simply discouraged. That’s all 🙂 No other hard and fast rules, really.
Thanks for the question and best of luck with the position!
I am 37 years old now, but as a young man I dropped out of middle school, now I find myself catching up on the education I once missed. I did manage to get my GED, Joined the Marines, and eventually built my confidence to go back to school. I am now five classes away from getting my bachelors degree; I couldn’t thank you enough for filling in part of the missing gaps of my missed education, it’s small videos like these that help others understand the basics. Thank you so much Tutor Phil. Your Initiative is greatly appreciated.
I’m glad my stuff has been helpful, Juan.
And I thank you for serving this country. Please don’t hesitate to write should you need further help.
Take care…
TP
Dear Tutor Phil
You forgot to mention that you should never finish a sentence with a contraction. It is one of the most important rules for using contractions we’ve. You might not think you are getting it wrong but you’re.
I paraphrase your previous rule: if it sounds wrong it’s.
Good point, Ian. Thanks!