By definition, a contraction is a shortened form of a group of words. Contractions are used in

Contractions, which are sometimes called ‘short forms’, commonly combine a pronoun or noun and a verb, or a verb and not, in a shorter form. Contractions are usually not appropriate in formal writing.

August 10, 2022 - Have and has are two of the most common words in contractions, whether they’re preceded by subjects (we’ve, it’s) or phrased as negatives (haven’t, hasn’t). However, have and has can be used as contractions only when they’re modal verbs, another name for helper verbs. When have or has is used as a main verb with the meaning “to own, possess, or hold,” they cannot be used as contractions.

May 2, 2025 - However, there is a difference between them: Contractions usually combine two words that are often used together (e.g., “do not” becomes “don’t”). A contraction has the same meaning as its uncontracted form.

Contractions are a way to mash together two words in order to make them shorter. Learn how and when to use them.

Here are some of the contractions you'll see the most: You might have noticed that the word won't is a little different from the other contractions. It means will not, even though the word will isn't there. This is because won't is based on a much older form of the word will. Even though the word changed, the contraction stayed the same! If anyone tells you that you should never use contractions in writing, they're wrong.

CONTRACTION definition: an act or instance of contracting or the quality or state of being contracted. See examples of contraction used in a sentence.

3 weeks ago - They may be considered idiomatic though the meaning of most were transparent when coined. Many are usually written hyphenated, but that reflects a common preference to hyphenate English compounds (except verbs) containing prepositions. "Fixed" is a matter of degree, and in this case, it essentially means "standard": that the contraction ...

July 29, 2025 - Contractions are shortened versions of words or phrases formed by omitting certain letters. In writing, an apostrophe indicates the omission. Examples of

The meaning of CONTRACTION is the action or process of contracting : the state of being contracted. How to use contraction in a sentence.

"Ain't That a Shame") consist of or contain contractions; these are covered at Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Trademarks and Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Titles, respectively.

CONTRACTION meaning: 1. the fact of something becoming smaller or shorter: 2. the fact of becoming less in amount or…. Learn more.

October 24, 2024 - There is commonly used to introduce sentences or to indicate where something is, as in It’s over there, next to the window. Their is the possessive form of the personal pronoun they, essentially meaning “belonging to or possessed by them,” as in Is that their car, or ours? They’re is a contraction of they are.

November 6, 2023 - When using they/them for someone who chooses to identify as that, would I say “they were going” or “they was going”? ... A subreddit for questions and discussions about grammar, language, style, conventions[,] and punctuation. ... All about substitute-teaching! Please add your user flair so we know where you are!

April 29, 2025 - For instance, "Sam's finished his term paper" implies completion in the past (Sam has finished), while "Sam's tired" is in the present tense, meaning Sam is. They may look odd in print, but certain multiple contractions such as I'd've (or I'd'a) and wouldn't've are fairly common in speech.

May 3, 2021 - However, if you remember that the word they're is actually a contraction for they are, you'll never confuse it with there or their.

September 20, 2021 - They are informal and casual, since they give your writing a more friendly, light, accessible, and approachable tone. Contractions can make the reader feel like you are talking directly to them and having a conversation. It helps make your writing appear uncomplicated for everyone to understand and make sense of. Because contractions are shorter, it also means that they take up less space.

But I advise you not to use the more colloquial contractions like she'd've in your formal writing: these things, while perfectly normal in speech, are a little too informal for careful writing. Such contractions represent the most useful job the apostrophe does for us, since, without it, we would have no way of expressing in writing the difference between she'll and shell, he'll and hell, can't and cant, I'll and ill, we're and were, she'd and shed, we'll and well, and perhaps a few others. A few words which were contractions long ago are still conventionally written with apostrophes, even though the longer forms have more or less dropped out of use.