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Settle a debate: Use of Contractions (1 Viewer)

tdoss

tdoss

Footballguy
My son and I just finished "Spare Parts". The movie about the high school that beat MIT and other colleges in an underwater robotics competition two years in a row.

The school's name is Carl Hayden High School.

Their motto is "The Pride's Inside".

One of us is of the opinion that the use of the apostrophe is to show possession.

The other is of the opinion that the apostrophe is a contraction of "Pride Is"

The one defending "possession" says that the school is using the apostrophe incorrectly...you simply cannot make up your own contractions.

The one defending "contraction" says that you can make contractions from time to time when using a noun with "is"...

Possession feels the rule is fairly solid...you simply can't just use a contraction however or whenever you feel.

What say the FFA?

 
The Pride's (for The Pride is) is not made-up. It's a perfectly good contraction.

If the meaning is that pride comes from the inside, it's a contraction. If the meaning is that a pride of lions or whatever has an inner circle, it's possessive. If it's some kind of hilarious double entendre, it could be both.

 
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Maurile Tremblay said:
The Pride's (for The Pride is) is not made-up. It's a perfectly good contraction.

If the meaning is that pride comes from the inside, it's a contraction. If the meaning is that a pride of lions or whatever has an inner circle, it's possessive. If it's some kind of hilarious double entendre, it could be both.
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All true, but shows why I hate IS contractions.

 
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Maurile Tremblay said:
The Pride's (for The Pride is) is not made-up. It's a perfectly good contraction.

If the meaning is that pride comes from the inside, it's a contraction. If the meaning is that a pride of lions or whatever has an inner circle, it's possessive. If it's some kind of hilarious double entendre, it could be both.
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A school's motto prompted an academic discussion between you and your son.

They win.

 
Contractions: Do Not Want

“Contractions belong in the delivery room, not in professional writing.”—Oscar Wilde.

OK, so maybe Oscar didn’t did not really utter those profound words of wisdom, but the point remains important. Languages across the world and throughout history, from German to Sanskrit, have concocted ways to save time when speaking and space when writing—a goal commonly realized by smashing words together like combatants in Tina Turner’s Thunderdome. Two words enter, one word leaves!

Of course, English also maintains this practice in the form of contractions. A contraction functions simply: it takes two words, brutally slices out a few letters, and clumsily slaps an apostrophe over the gaping wounds left from the carnage. It is worth noting, that in formal writing, it’s it is best to avoid contractions.

CORRECT: “Let us go listen to the newest song by Nickelback!”

INCORRECT: “Hmmm, let’s hold our breath until we pass out instead.”

CORRECT: “I am pretty sure I forgot to brush my teeth this morning.”

INCORRECT: “I’m avoiding you like the seafood at Golden Corral—well, any food at Golden Corral.”

CORRECT: “Please, respected elder acting as an instrument of state authority, do not punish me with the electrical discharge from that handheld device!”

INCORRECT: “Don’t tase me, bro!” (yep, still funny)

You get the picture. Chances are, if you see a word with an apostrophe that isn’t is not a possessive, you’re you are looking at the remnants of one of these Human Centipede-ish surgical amalgamations.

Although they’re they are useful during conversation and texting with your hip and groovy pals, contractions do not belong in professional writing. Contractions bring an informal tone, one that doesn’t does not fit in the business or academic world. As it happens, avoiding contractions also brings a bonus to professional writing—it adds an extra word or two to the final word count, which means you get paid for doing less.

You’re You are welcome.
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cstu said:
Contractions: Do Not Want

“Contractions belong in the delivery room, not in professional writing.”—Oscar Wilde.

OK, so maybe Oscar didn’t did not really utter those profound words of wisdom, but the point remains important. Languages across the world and throughout history, from German to Sanskrit, have concocted ways to save time when speaking and space when writing—a goal commonly realized by smashing words together like combatants in Tina Turner’s Thunderdome. Two words enter, one word leaves!

Of course, English also maintains this practice in the form of contractions. A contraction functions simply: it takes two words, brutally slices out a few letters, and clumsily slaps an apostrophe over the gaping wounds left from the carnage. It is worth noting, that in formal writing, it’s it is best to avoid contractions.

CORRECT: “Let us go listen to the newest song by Nickelback!”

INCORRECT: “Hmmm, let’s hold our breath until we pass out instead.”

CORRECT: “I am pretty sure I forgot to brush my teeth this morning.”

INCORRECT: “I’m avoiding you like the seafood at Golden Corral—well, any food at Golden Corral.”

CORRECT: “Please, respected elder acting as an instrument of state authority, do not punish me with the electrical discharge from that handheld device!”

INCORRECT: “Don’t tase me, bro!” (yep, still funny)

You get the picture. Chances are, if you see a word with an apostrophe that isn’t is not a possessive, you’re you are looking at the remnants of one of these Human Centipede-ish surgical amalgamations.

Although they’re they are useful during conversation and texting with your hip and groovy pals, contractions do not belong in professional writing. Contractions bring an informal tone, one that doesn’t does not fit in the business or academic world. As it happens, avoiding contractions also brings a bonus to professional writing—it adds an extra word or two to the final word count, which means you get paid for doing less.

You’re You are welcome.
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I don't get it. Those are all correct.

In fact, the very first example, labeled "correct," is really awful from a style standpoint even though there's nothing grammatically wrong with it. Nobody ever says "let us do such-and-such" in normal English. People who write this way tend not to be very good writers.

 
cstu said:
Contractions: Do Not Want

“Contractions belong in the delivery room, not in professional writing.”—Oscar Wilde.

OK, so maybe Oscar didn’t did not really utter those profound words of wisdom, but the point remains important. Languages across the world and throughout history, from German to Sanskrit, have concocted ways to save time when speaking and space when writing—a goal commonly realized by smashing words together like combatants in Tina Turner’s Thunderdome. Two words enter, one word leaves!

Of course, English also maintains this practice in the form of contractions. A contraction functions simply: it takes two words, brutally slices out a few letters, and clumsily slaps an apostrophe over the gaping wounds left from the carnage. It is worth noting, that in formal writing, it’s it is best to avoid contractions.

CORRECT: “Let us go listen to the newest song by Nickelback!”

INCORRECT: “Hmmm, let’s hold our breath until we pass out instead.”

CORRECT: “I am pretty sure I forgot to brush my teeth this morning.”

INCORRECT: “I’m avoiding you like the seafood at Golden Corral—well, any food at Golden Corral.”

CORRECT: “Please, respected elder acting as an instrument of state authority, do not punish me with the electrical discharge from that handheld device!”

INCORRECT: “Don’t tase me, bro!” (yep, still funny)

You get the picture. Chances are, if you see a word with an apostrophe that isn’t is not a possessive, you’re you are looking at the remnants of one of these Human Centipede-ish surgical amalgamations.

Although they’re they are useful during conversation and texting with your hip and groovy pals, contractions do not belong in professional writing. Contractions bring an informal tone, one that doesn’t does not fit in the business or academic world. As it happens, avoiding contractions also brings a bonus to professional writing—it adds an extra word or two to the final word count, which means you get paid for doing less.

You’re You are welcome.
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That's f'n stupid.

 
IvanKaramazov said:
cstu said:
Contractions: Do Not Want

“Contractions belong in the delivery room, not in professional writing.”—Oscar Wilde.

OK, so maybe Oscar didn’t did not really utter those profound words of wisdom, but the point remains important. Languages across the world and throughout history, from German to Sanskrit, have concocted ways to save time when speaking and space when writing—a goal commonly realized by smashing words together like combatants in Tina Turner’s Thunderdome. Two words enter, one word leaves!

Of course, English also maintains this practice in the form of contractions. A contraction functions simply: it takes two words, brutally slices out a few letters, and clumsily slaps an apostrophe over the gaping wounds left from the carnage. It is worth noting, that in formal writing, it’s it is best to avoid contractions.

CORRECT: “Let us go listen to the newest song by Nickelback!”

INCORRECT: “Hmmm, let’s hold our breath until we pass out instead.”

CORRECT: “I am pretty sure I forgot to brush my teeth this morning.”

INCORRECT: “I’m avoiding you like the seafood at Golden Corral—well, any food at Golden Corral.”

CORRECT: “Please, respected elder acting as an instrument of state authority, do not punish me with the electrical discharge from that handheld device!”

INCORRECT: “Don’t tase me, bro!” (yep, still funny)

You get the picture. Chances are, if you see a word with an apostrophe that isn’t is not a possessive, you’re you are looking at the remnants of one of these Human Centipede-ish surgical amalgamations.

Although they’re they are useful during conversation and texting with your hip and groovy pals, contractions do not belong in professional writing. Contractions bring an informal tone, one that doesn’t does not fit in the business or academic world. As it happens, avoiding contractions also brings a bonus to professional writing—it adds an extra word or two to the final word count, which means you get paid for doing less.

You’re You are welcome.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
I don't get it. Those are all correct.

In fact, the very first example, labeled "correct," is really awful from a style standpoint even though there's nothing grammatically wrong with it. Nobody ever says "let us do such-and-such" in normal English. People who write this way tend not to be very good writers.
Click to expand...
Yes, and contractions are fine not only in casual writing, but in professional writing as well, IMO. (Though "IMO" is not.) They're not appropriate in every case, but there's no hard rule against them.

"Such common contractions as it's, that's, they're, and she'll are correct in almost all written communications in business and the professions. Whether or not you choose to use them is a matter of personal preference." David W. Ewing, Writing for Results in Business, Government, and the Professions 358 (1974).

"Use occasional contractions. They'll keep you from taking yourself too seriously, tell your reader that you're not a prude, and help you achieve a more natural, conversational rhythm in your style." John R. Trimble, Writing with Style 78 (1975).

But don't go nuts. Use your best judgment.

"Don't start using contractions at every single opportunity from here on. It's not as simple as that. Contractions have to be used with care. Sometimes they fit, sometimes they don't. It depends on whether you would use the contraction in speaking that particular sentence (e.g., in this sentence I would say you would and not you'd). It also depends on whether the contraction would help or hinder the rhythm that would suit your sentence for proper emphasis. So don't try to be consistent about this; it doesn't work. You have to go by feel, not by rule." Rudolph Flesch, The Art of Readable Writing 97 (1949).

 
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Usually debates don't have an actual right and wrong answer. The gray area is where the debate comes into play.

 
Cjw_55106 said:
Usually debates don't have an actual right and wrong answer. The gray area is where the debate comes into play.
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One side of the argument found many sources that state explicitly not to "make up your own contractions".

That was the sticking point...

 
Walking Boot said:
Henry Ford said:
the moops said:
Henry Ford said:
On a grammar note, the title of that NBA BTTF thread drives me absolutely insane every time I see it.
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Frosty is the new Pumpnick?

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Thank God. "Where for art thou Pumpy" was annoying.
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:goodposting:

First, because it's "wherefore", and second, because "wherefore" means "Why?" and not "Where?"
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