How to Write a Contraction Word

Since the word contract means “to squeeze together,” it seems only logical
that a contraction is two words made shorter by placing an apostrophe where
letters have been omitted. Writing a contraction properly is simple when you
know the general rule of creating contractions.

You replace the letters that were removed from the original words with
an apostrophe when you make the contraction.

If you combine “is” + “not” to form “isn’t,” you remove the “o” from “not” and
replace it with an apostrophe. One common exception to this rule is the word
“won’t.” It is a shortened form of “will not,” but you can see the word “will” is
not in the contraction at all.

Lists of Contraction Words

Contraction words are made out of common words, and there are a little over 90 standard
contractions.

List of Common Contractions

These are the most common contractions you’ll hear or use when speaking English.
Contraction Word Base Words
could’ve could have
he’d he had or he would
he’s he is
he’ll/she’ll he will/she will
I’d I had
I’ll I will
I’m I am
I’ve I have
let’s let us
might’ve might have
must’ve must have
she had or she
she’d
would
should’ve should have
there’s there is
they’re they are
they’d they would
they’ll they will
they’ve they have
we’d we had or we would
we’ll we will
we’re we are
we’ve we have
where’s where is
who’s who is
you’ll you will

List of Negating Contractions

Contractions like these that include the word “not” negate a verb.
Contraction Word Base Words
aren’t are not
can’t can not
couldn’t could not
didn’t did not
doesn’t does not
don’t do not
hadn’t had not
hasn’t has not
haven’t have not
isn’t is not
mustn’t must not
shouldn’t should not
wasn’t was not
weren’t were not
won’t will not
wouldn’t would not

List of Weird Contraction Words

From double contractions to slang and old fashioned words, some contractions don’t look
exactly like all the others.
Contraction Word Base Words
am not, is not, has not, have
ain’t
not
e’er ever
he’d’ve he would have
ma’am madam
o’clock of the clock
she’d’ve she would have
‘tis it is
‘twas it was
y’all you all