I'm having contractions...

Vivien Hammel, one of my Online English Grammar readers wrote asking:

'What is the proper term for words which are joined by an apostrophe? This is something that bothers me. Yet one sees so much more (in business) than I recall at a school.

For example: you'll

Thank you for your time and consideration of my quesiton.'

Vivien, the proper term for this is a 'contraction'. We use it more and more, as you have noticed, in written English and use it all the time in spoken English. Some common contractions are:

• I'm for I am
• You'll / he'll / she'll for you will, he will, she will
• They're / we're / for they are / we are
• Don't for do not
• Won't for will not
• Can't for can not
• Aren't for are not

Although contractions such as would've for would have and should've for should have are common in spoken English they still don't enter into written English very often but with our 'need for speed' it proably won't be long before they do!

Comments

[Livette Santiago]

I wanted to ask you if it is possible to have a contraction for the word should. For example is you'd an acceptable contractions for you should? Same thing with He'd for he should, etc. Appreciate your comments.