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Usenet Posted 23 years ago
Usage
Use of contractions in written english
Hi everybody,
I thougt that you shouldn't use contractions in written english (uups). Some days ago I came across an articel or something else what said that there are some (very few) situations where you have to use contractions even in written english. I tried to find this articel, or was it in one of my grammar books, but can't. So my question is, does anyone of you know something about that?
alex
I thougt that you shouldn't use contractions in written english (uups). Some days ago I came across an articel or something else what said that there are some (very few) situations where you have to use contractions even in written english. I tried to find this articel, or was it in one of my grammar books, but can't. So my question is, does anyone of you know something about that?
alex
Top answer
[nq:1]... days ago I came across an articel or something else what said thatthere are some (very few) situations where you have to use contractions even in written english. I tried to find this articel, or was it in one of my[/nq] This advice was unreliable.
- [nq:1]...
- days ago I came across an articel or something else what said thatthere are some (very few) situations where you have to use contractions even in written english.
- I tried to find this articel, or was it in one of my[/nq] This advice was unreliable.
- In no aspect of written English are you obliged to use contractions.
- Don Phillipson Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada)
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82 Answers
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[nq:1]... days ago I came across an articel or something else what said thatthere are some (very few) situations where you have to use contractions even in written english. I tried to find this articel, or was it in one of my[/nq]
This advice was unreliable. In no aspect of written English are you obliged to use contractions.
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada)
This advice was unreliable. In no aspect of written English are you obliged to use contractions.
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada)
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[nq:1]Hi everybody, I thougt that you shouldn't use contractions in written english (uups). Some days ago I came across an ... in one of my grammar books, but can't. So my question is, does anyone of you know something about that?[/nq]
English doesn't have "rules" in this way. It is, in general, considered best practice not to use contractions in very formal written English, but nobody will co
English doesn't have "rules" in this way. It is, in general, considered best practice not to use contractions in very formal written English, but nobody will co
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Are there any instances where a contraction has become the standard spelling?
I admit I can't think of any at the moment, but my gut feeling is that there probably are a couple of obscure ones lurking out there somewhere.
Cheers, Harvey
Ottawa/Toronto/Edmonton for 30 years;
Southern England for the past 21 years.
(for e-mail, change harvey to whhvs)
I admit I can't think of any at the moment, but my gut feeling is that there probably are a couple of obscure ones lurking out there somewhere.
Cheers, Harvey
Ottawa/Toronto/Edmonton for 30 years;
Southern England for the past 21 years.
(for e-mail, change harvey to whhvs)
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In our last episode,
,
the lovely and talented Alexander Hefendehl
broadcast on alt.usage.english:
[nq:1]Hi everybody, I thougt that you shouldn't use contractions in written english (uups). Some days ago I came across an ... in one of my grammar books, but can't. So my question is, does anyone of you know something about that?[/nq]
A number of contractions can not be expanded
,
the lovely and talented Alexander Hefendehl
broadcast on alt.usage.english:
[nq:1]Hi everybody, I thougt that you shouldn't use contractions in written english (uups). Some days ago I came across an ... in one of my grammar books, but can't. So my question is, does anyone of you know something about that?[/nq]
A number of contractions can not be expanded
00
[nq:1]Are there any instances where a contraction has become the standard spelling?[/nq]
Ain't?
Brian Rodenborn
Ain't?
Brian Rodenborn
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Some publications require contractions when the alternative is a phrase with "not" in it. I belive the Wall Street Journal is one such. This is to guard against a complete change of meaning if the "not" is inadvertently omitted. It's much easier for a typesetter (or, these days, computer inputter) to drop a whole word than part of a contraction.
Of course, this is a matter of style, not a rule
Of course, this is a matter of style, not a rule
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[nq:2]Are there any instances where a contraction has become the standard spelling?[/nq]
[nq:1]Ain't? Brian Rodenborn[/nq]
That's correct: is the standard spelling for a nonstandard usage. would be another one.
As for standard usages, is a respelled contraction: It was previously (and is still, by some people) spelled . Then there are contractions containing substituting for or ,
[nq:1]Ain't? Brian Rodenborn[/nq]
That's correct: is the standard spelling for a nonstandard usage. would be another one.
As for standard usages, is a respelled contraction: It was previously (and is still, by some people) spelled . Then there are contractions containing substituting for or ,
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[nq:1]Hi everybody, I thougt that you shouldn't use contractions in written english (uups).Some days ago I came across an articel ... one of my grammar books, but can't. So my question is, does anyone of you know something about that? alex[/nq]
You know, it's extremely annoying to see "English" written with a small letter when it is the language or people being referred to.(1)
As for
You know, it's extremely annoying to see "English" written with a small letter when it is the language or people being referred to.(1)
As for
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"Raymond S. Wise" (Email Removed) wrote on 19 Nov 2003:
I gotta agree with this complaint. I hate seeing "English" written with and "e".
[nq:1]As for not using contractions in written speech, this is mainly true of formal written speech, as in academic writing. ... Literary studies and Rhetoric and composition studies, allow the use of contractions in certain journals and published bo
I gotta agree with this complaint. I hate seeing "English" written with and "e".
[nq:1]As for not using contractions in written speech, this is mainly true of formal written speech, as in academic writing. ... Literary studies and Rhetoric and composition studies, allow the use of contractions in certain journals and published bo
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[nq:1]You know, it's extremely annoying to see "English" written with a small letter when it is the language or people being referred to.(1)[/nq]
I couldn't agree more; in fact, it is a plonking offence. I wonder whether some people do this just to be annoying or whether ignorance is more often the cause. I believe it is the accepted format in several other languages, so that could also a fact
I couldn't agree more; in fact, it is a plonking offence. I wonder whether some people do this just to be annoying or whether ignorance is more often the cause. I believe it is the accepted format in several other languages, so that could also a fact
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