Contractions

Contractions are shortened forms of words or phrases in which letters are omitted and the remaining letters are joined by an apostrophe. They reflect spoken language and are common in informal writing and everyday communication. Examples include I'm (I am), you're (you are), can't (cannot), it's (it is), and they've (they have).

Contractions in English usually attach to a pronoun or noun with a verb, or combine an auxiliary with not. Common patterns include pronoun + be (I'm, he's, they're); pronoun + have (we've, they've); pronoun + will/shall (you'll, we'll). Negation is formed with not, as in don't (do not), isn't (is not), can't (cannot), and wouldn't (would not). Some longer forms like would have or should have appear as would've or should've in informal writing.

Usage notes: Contractions signal an informal tone and are prevalent in dialogue and casual prose. In formal or academic writing, contractions are typically discouraged, though some style guides permit them in quoted speech or to convey a character's voice. The frequent confusion between its and it's illustrates the importance of apostrophes: it's = it is; its = possessive determiner. O'clock is a specialized contraction from “of the clock,” used in telling time. Some older or stylistic contractions use hyphens or punctuation (rock'n'roll, ’twas). In other languages, contraction refers to similar processes of elision and fusion.