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Recently someone who was critiquing my work informed me that I needed to use more contractions. I have thought about that for a while. I am trying to finish a short story I am about to post; trying to use them, and have come to the conclusion that I simply do not like them. It is not my voice! For a reason that completely eludes me, I find them distasteful!
It would be like my speaking in a Texas drawl and swearing. While there is certainly nothing wrong with the Texas drawl, or not much wrong with colorful language in very measured use, it is just not me.
I have thought a lot about this and I just feel like perhaps I may be from another time and place. I just don't know what I will do if I must use contractions. Can the consciousness from another time and culture carry through down through the ages?
Must I use contractions, really?
Comments
Don't ask me
'cos I dunno what you's talkin' abaht, innit.
Angharad
Angharad
LOL!
That's wut I'm talk'n about!
Mr. Ram
Contractions
Gwen,
When you are writing in your own voice you may write anyway you wish. When you are writing as someone else, then you want to write as they would speak or think. Wouldn't it be awful if all authors used the same style. How boring! :)Portia
Portia
I suppose if ...
... you do not use contractions then you will save any confusion over the use of apostrophes. I do not know anyone who would not use contractions in normal speech. It is very strange both to hear and to read. It is unnatural to me but perhaps if you write about people who would not use contractions in normal communication then that is how you must write. Even if it does sound rather stilted. Not quite as bad as split infinitives though or, worse, prepositions used to end sentences with.
I use contractions all the time in both written and spoken communication but whatever floats your boat is all right. However this sentence seems at variance with the rest of your post:
"I just don't know what I will do if I must use contractions." :)
Geoff
Trade ya
You were told to use more? I was told to use less! Make you a deal, I'll use yours! Should even out 'tween the two of us. ;-)
KJT
"Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.”
George Carlin
Writing romantically
I've not really been writing that long, and after reading one of your notes, I realise that I do use contractions when I speak. So, why is there such a difference between what I write and what I speak?
Several months ago, I was quite chuffed with what I think is called Elizabethan English. y'know th'stuff with all th'thees and thous? I was absolutely fascinated by it, but found it unwieldy to use in a supper market. Somehow, I seem to have forgotten it entirely, though I still find it quite charming.
I am working on a soon to be released story called "Snow Day" and it is so romantic to me that I am forced to sit on a towel. The story has me by my bodice just now and I am a'feared that it shall tear. snark snark, evil giggle.
Contractions
With a mid-wife in the house I can tell you with great certainty that contractions are essential and should be timed.
The narrative is your Voice. Most professionals avoid contractions in their narrative, other than the common contractions such as don't, won't, and couldn't. Dialogue will sound stilted if you don't sprinkle it quite liberally with contractions.
I had a main character in Shannon's Course speak without contractions, because she was pompous. She used contractions in her thoughts. I wonder how many readers even noticed that nuance, but maybe subconsciously they did?
I try to avoid I'd, she'd, we'd, they'd because it slows me down when I read to try to decipher if the contraction means I would or I had. I've never seen a professional comment on that so it's strictly my personal hang-up.
As we have bantered about -- there are many great books written that break all the rules. Remember what Hepburn said, "If you obey all the rules, you miss out on all the fun." Of course Kate was the mistress of propriety.
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
Best done by a general contractor
Why worry? One way or the other most authors have their own styles, As for me I hope I will not come across a story written in text message form, I would never be able to read it.
More on Contractions
It is important to time them, you may need to drive faster
Do it Your Way
IF you don't like 'em, don't use 'em.
It's your voice. Keep it that way.
Hugs,
The living language of English
I experience anguish and despair when I hear our language being grossly messed up by people who are too lazy to speak properly.
I am disappointed by people who can't spell when they need to write something down. I was in the supermarket the other day and the check out operator had difficulty entering 'rhubarb' into her computer. She didn't know what the product was, I told her. She couldn't spell it, I told her more than a few times. Even her supervisor had difficulty in helping her. What is our world coming to?
I understand that English as a language, is evolving over time and I am glad that we don't need to read Chaucerian English any more. It is so hard.
I guess the maxim in place here is one like food and wine. Everything in moderation. Eat appropriately, drink appropriately, contract appropriately.
You are the author Gwen. You decide how your characters communicate. As others in this thread have said, if everyone spoke the same way how boring it would be.
We are the readers. It is our job to read and understand the story that you have written.
Keep up the good work.
Robyn B
Sydney
Robyn B
Sydney