10 Comments
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M.E. Proctor's avatar

In dialogue, definitely. I had a story reprint in an Australian anthology recently and the editor removed almost all the contractions. It read incredibly clunky. Not a good feel. In expository text, narrative passages, contractions need to be weighed carefully. Too much and the writing turns sloppy.

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A.C. Cargill, All-Human Author's avatar

Geez! Another editor with no sense. I can imagine how clunky that made the dialogue! Sigh.

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Steve's avatar

Well done, and useful.

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A.C. Cargill, All-Human Author's avatar

Thanks, Steve! Have a great day.

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David Perlmutter's avatar

I always wonder about exactly how and why "will not" became "won't".

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A.C. Cargill, All-Human Author's avatar

That would indeed be a good thing to know. I couldn't find anything on it, though. Sigh.

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Ben Woestenburg's avatar

I'm sorry. Can't have that now, can we? I'll try to do better in the future.

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A.C. Cargill, All-Human Author's avatar

You'd best watch those contr'ctions! And apostrophes can be sneaky, slippin' in where least s'spected.

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Ben Woestenburg's avatar

'Specially when yer speakin' in a slangy voice!

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A.C. Cargill, All-Human Author's avatar

Yepp'r roony!

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