What’s the use of contractions?

Melissa Wardell | March 9, 2016

A client asked me why we often recommend using contractions as part of our approach to plain language. This client said she considered her publication to be ‘formal’, and she didn’t feel contractions fitted with the formal tone she wanted to convey.

This question is a common one and I was glad the client asked.

What are contractions?

Contractions are a shortened form of one or two words (with one of the words usually being a verb). In the shortened version, an apostrophe takes the place of missing letters.

Common contractions include: I’m (I am), there’s (there is), can’t (cannot), and it’s (it is).

Why use contractions?

Plain language is very much about writing as you’d talk. When we talk, we’re more likely to say ‘I’ve done that’ than ‘I have done that’. We advocate doing exactly the same thing in writing to give your document better flow and make reading easier.

From a plain language perspective, contractions help to make writing seem more natural and less ‘stuffy’. Researchers have also shown that they enhance readability.

Are there exceptions?

There are exceptions to this, though. Writing words out in full can emphasise a statement. So sometimes it is right to avoid contractions, such as in this very sentence!

Want to learn more?

If you understand the basics of grammar, punctuation, and word use, you can craft great documents. Find out how to fix problems in your writing so it’s professional and easy to read.

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(Last updated: November 2024)