 You Use Contractions?)
Imagine if Elton John and Kiki Dee had sung, “Do Not Go Breaking My Heart,” or if Journey had belted out, “Do Not Stop Believin’.” The lyrics don’t have the same charm — they feel stiff without the original contractions. Contractions add style and personality to songs, books, poems, and prose, but there is a time and a place for them. In contrast to the previous examples, imagine if poet Dylan Thomas had used the contraction “don’t” in the title of his most famous work, “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night.” There’s nuance to using contractions, so let’s break down a few instances when you should and shouldn’t use them.
Contractions are shortened versions of common word combinations formed by omitting letters and joining the parts with an apostrophe. “Do not” becomes “don’t,” “cannot” becomes “can’t,” and so on. These shortened versions have been around for centuries, and they aren’t going anywhere. They mirror natural speech patterns. That’s the key: Use them in informal writing to reflect a natural cadence. Contractions are fair game in emails, blogs, dialogue, and even this article. In very formal situations, however, the answer isn’t as clear-cut.
If you’re following a specific style guide for professional writing — legal, business, or academic — check the guidelines. For instance, in AP (Associated Press) style, which is used in journalism, contractions are acceptable in informal contexts “if they’re listed in the dictionary.” So, if people commonly say and understand it, it’s OK to write it. The Chicago Manual of Style has similar guidance, but in writing that is both formal and technical, contractions are discouraged. However, Chicago style champions contractions in nontechnical writing, especially when using them would make writing sound more natural and pleasant to read.
The key is to hone in on the desired tone to determine if contractions will help or hurt your cause. If you’re aiming for a conversational tone in personal or creative writing, contractions are your best friend. However, if your writing is formal or technical, contractions may hurt your credibility or undermine the clarity of your ideas. Think of contractions as tools — they’re great help for some types of writing, but they can’t fix everything, so you need to know when to put them away.
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