What Are Contractions?

What You'll Learn

• A contraction is two words squished into one shorter word
• An apostrophe takes the place of the missing letters
• Common contractions: can't, don't, I'm, it's, they're
• The apostrophe shows where letters were removed
• Contractions make speaking and writing faster and more natural

Words to Know

Contraction

Two words squished into one

"'Can't' is a contraction."

Apostrophe

A mark that replaces missing letters

"The apostrophe in 'don't' replaces 'no'."

Combine

To join two things together

"We combine 'I' and 'am' to make 'I'm'."

Missing

Something taken away

"The missing letters are replaced by an apostrophe."

Check What You Learned

Fun Facts

• A contraction is a shortened form of two words combined into one

  Source: Merriam-Webster / grammar references

• An apostrophe replaces the omitted letter(s) in a contraction

  Source: Chicago Manual of Style

• Common contractions: can't (can not), don't (do not), I'm (I am), it's (it is), they're (they are), I'll (I will)

  Source: CCSS / grammar textbooks

• Contractions are standard in spoken English and informal writing

  Source: CMS

• Formal writing often avoids contractions

  Source: CMS

• The word 'contraction' derives from Latin 'contractio' meaning 'a drawing together'

  Source: etymology references