Contractions
PROGRAM: “IN A WORD”
EPISODE: CONTRACTIONS
[5 TO 10 SEC OF MUSIC]
[FADE MUSIC]
I’m Candace Schaefer with “In a Word,” your weekly communication tip.
Contractions—They’re convenient--but are they correct? Contractions are words and phrases shortened by omitting letters; the missing letters are usually replaced by an apostrophe. I say usually because some contractions are so ingrained in our language that we don’t even recognize them as contractions. Take the word "goodbye." Goodbye is a contraction of “God Be With You,” but the apostrophe is long gone.
You may have been told that you should never use contractions in formal communication. Some language pundits even say using contractions is lazy writing, brought on by a lack of regard for propriety. In truth, contractions have been a part of our language since Old English.
So why is the contraction maligned? Let’s examine the facts. Would it have been more correct for me to say, “Let us examine the facts” instead of “Let’s”? Omitting the contraction here gives a stiffness and detachment to the writing, making me sound, well, snooty. Contractions are discouraged in formal writing, in part, because they create a conversational, even personal tone—traits frowned on in most formal discourse.
Contractions are also discouraged when writing for an international audience because they can make the work more difficult to understand or translate. In circumstances were contractions are appropriate, why are some accepted and others shunned by writers and grammarians? For example, "wouldn’t" and "it’s" are seen frequently in writing, but the contractions "ain’t" and "y’all" are considered nonstandard.
Wait—"Y’all" is nonstandard? Why, them’s fightin’ words if you’re from Texas, all y’all.
Even an article on Southern language in the Economist defends the use of "y’all" as handy, saying “there is, in fact, room in the market for new second-person plural pronouns. Visitors to Texas typically realize the value of 'y'all' within 48 hours.”
So why isn’t "ain’t" considered to be a standard contraction? Well, for one thing, it’s imprecise. According to Merriam’s dictionary, "Ain’t" can stand for the words "am not," "are not," "is not," "have not," or "has not."
And what about my line: “Them’s fighting words?” Take apart the contraction there and you have a subject/verb agreement error: “Them is fighting words.” That won’t fly in most situations, even in Texas.
Mostly, though, "ain’t" and "them’s" just lack social status. People tend to associate them with nonstandard and informal language.
So should you use contractions? Sure. Well, maybe not "them’s" and "ain’t." Just keep your reader and purpose in mind. When you want a more casual tone, contractions just "aren’t" a problem.
This has been “In a Word,” a program made possible by the Texas A&M University Writing Center and a production of KAMU FM on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station. For more writing and speaking tips, visit our website at writingcenter.tamu.edu. I’m Candace Schaefer, helping you make every word count.
[5 TO 10 SEC OF MUSIC]
EPISODE: CONTRACTIONS
[5 TO 10 SEC OF MUSIC]
[FADE MUSIC]
I’m Candace Schaefer with “In a Word,” your weekly communication tip.
Contractions—They’re convenient--but are they correct? Contractions are words and phrases shortened by omitting letters; the missing letters are usually replaced by an apostrophe. I say usually because some contractions are so ingrained in our language that we don’t even recognize them as contractions. Take the word "goodbye." Goodbye is a contraction of “God Be With You,” but the apostrophe is long gone.
You may have been told that you should never use contractions in formal communication. Some language pundits even say using contractions is lazy writing, brought on by a lack of regard for propriety. In truth, contractions have been a part of our language since Old English.
So why is the contraction maligned? Let’s examine the facts. Would it have been more correct for me to say, “Let us examine the facts” instead of “Let’s”? Omitting the contraction here gives a stiffness and detachment to the writing, making me sound, well, snooty. Contractions are discouraged in formal writing, in part, because they create a conversational, even personal tone—traits frowned on in most formal discourse.
Contractions are also discouraged when writing for an international audience because they can make the work more difficult to understand or translate. In circumstances were contractions are appropriate, why are some accepted and others shunned by writers and grammarians? For example, "wouldn’t" and "it’s" are seen frequently in writing, but the contractions "ain’t" and "y’all" are considered nonstandard.
Wait—"Y’all" is nonstandard? Why, them’s fightin’ words if you’re from Texas, all y’all.
Even an article on Southern language in the Economist defends the use of "y’all" as handy, saying “there is, in fact, room in the market for new second-person plural pronouns. Visitors to Texas typically realize the value of 'y'all' within 48 hours.”
So why isn’t "ain’t" considered to be a standard contraction? Well, for one thing, it’s imprecise. According to Merriam’s dictionary, "Ain’t" can stand for the words "am not," "are not," "is not," "have not," or "has not."
And what about my line: “Them’s fighting words?” Take apart the contraction there and you have a subject/verb agreement error: “Them is fighting words.” That won’t fly in most situations, even in Texas.
Mostly, though, "ain’t" and "them’s" just lack social status. People tend to associate them with nonstandard and informal language.
So should you use contractions? Sure. Well, maybe not "them’s" and "ain’t." Just keep your reader and purpose in mind. When you want a more casual tone, contractions just "aren’t" a problem.
This has been “In a Word,” a program made possible by the Texas A&M University Writing Center and a production of KAMU FM on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station. For more writing and speaking tips, visit our website at writingcenter.tamu.edu. I’m Candace Schaefer, helping you make every word count.
[5 TO 10 SEC OF MUSIC]