Contractions

Two words that are combined to form a more naturally sounding speech or writing are called
contractions. The combined words are set apart by an apostrophe and some letters (usually from the
second word) are subtracted to form the contraction. The following are the most common examples of
contractions:
Isnt Is not
Arent Are not
Werent Were not
Wasnt Was not
Theyre They are
Its It is
Thats That is
ant an not
Would!e Would ha!e
"hould!e "hould ha!e
Wouldnt Would not
"houldnt "hould not
#idnt #id not
#oesnt #oes not
$ed%"hed $e had%"he had
$ell%"hell $e will%"he will
$owd $ow did
$owll $ow will
Im I am
Ill I will
Id I would
Im I am
Aint Am not
&A!oid mista'ing contractions from possessi!e words. Although possessi!e words also ha!e an
apostrophe between the noun and the letter s (ex. (i'e)s clothes)* it is still not a combination of words.
&ontractions are not used in formal speech (such as +ob inter!iews) and formal writing (such as
resumes and formal letters).