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Common Errors Workbook |
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Punctuation and mechanics |
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28. Contractions |
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In all contexts other than formal writing, contractions can give a more conversational and intimate feel to your writing. E-mail is a great example, and in recent years acronyms have become the ultra hip contraction of electronic discourse, IMHO [in my humble opinion]. It's easy to misspell contractions, however, and acronyms may confuse your reader.
Here is an example of a contraction in a sentence that an instructor might find perfectly acceptable:
It's best to use a contraction when it feels more natural.Here is an example of a contraction that is unacceptable in formal writing:
He couldn't've known that he had chosen the right answer.Even though we say it like this, it's too much of a hurdle for the reader's eye to get across.
In any contraction, an apostrophe shows where the missing letters are. Be careful that you place your apostrophe correctly whenever you use contractions.
Remember: When in doubt about whether or not to use contractions, spell out all the words, particularly when you are writing application essays and cover letters.
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