Can a word be contracted twice (e.g. “I'ven't”)?
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I've seen a contraction of two words. I can't see why it wouldn't be possible to contract twice. Is it possible and how should it be punctuated?
Update: Ok, to sum up the answers so far
- This appears in spoken British and American English
- It is from one of the lower registers of English
- Even if spoken this way sometimes, it isn't really written as a double contraction, except as written speech in fiction.
- And from my own googling in Wiktionary, it appears most written forms are old British words, often nautical like fo'c'sle.
punctuation apostrophe pronunciation-vs-spelling contractions
add a comment |
I've seen a contraction of two words. I can't see why it wouldn't be possible to contract twice. Is it possible and how should it be punctuated?
Update: Ok, to sum up the answers so far
- This appears in spoken British and American English
- It is from one of the lower registers of English
- Even if spoken this way sometimes, it isn't really written as a double contraction, except as written speech in fiction.
- And from my own googling in Wiktionary, it appears most written forms are old British words, often nautical like fo'c'sle.
punctuation apostrophe pronunciation-vs-spelling contractions
5
Are their grammarians in fo'c'sles?
– Jared Updike
Aug 6 '10 at 4:58
2
It's fo'c's'le, though the apostrophe after the s is sometimes omitted. Forecastle.
– TRiG
Oct 30 '10 at 4:13
2
@Jared Updike: Whose grammarians?
– Piskvor
Oct 30 '10 at 11:45
4
@Piskvor: ha ha... apparently not me! It was meant to be a pun on 'Are there atheists in foxholes?'
– Jared Updike
Oct 30 '10 at 19:38
The answers seem low quality... I'm new here, please tell me: do the answer always defer to my high school English teacher?
– Joe Coder
Aug 7 '16 at 6:23
add a comment |
I've seen a contraction of two words. I can't see why it wouldn't be possible to contract twice. Is it possible and how should it be punctuated?
Update: Ok, to sum up the answers so far
- This appears in spoken British and American English
- It is from one of the lower registers of English
- Even if spoken this way sometimes, it isn't really written as a double contraction, except as written speech in fiction.
- And from my own googling in Wiktionary, it appears most written forms are old British words, often nautical like fo'c'sle.
punctuation apostrophe pronunciation-vs-spelling contractions
I've seen a contraction of two words. I can't see why it wouldn't be possible to contract twice. Is it possible and how should it be punctuated?
Update: Ok, to sum up the answers so far
- This appears in spoken British and American English
- It is from one of the lower registers of English
- Even if spoken this way sometimes, it isn't really written as a double contraction, except as written speech in fiction.
- And from my own googling in Wiktionary, it appears most written forms are old British words, often nautical like fo'c'sle.
punctuation apostrophe pronunciation-vs-spelling contractions
punctuation apostrophe pronunciation-vs-spelling contractions
edited Nov 8 '17 at 6:03
sumelic
50.7k8121228
50.7k8121228
asked Aug 5 '10 at 20:51
MatthewMartinMatthewMartin
1,67421526
1,67421526
5
Are their grammarians in fo'c'sles?
– Jared Updike
Aug 6 '10 at 4:58
2
It's fo'c's'le, though the apostrophe after the s is sometimes omitted. Forecastle.
– TRiG
Oct 30 '10 at 4:13
2
@Jared Updike: Whose grammarians?
– Piskvor
Oct 30 '10 at 11:45
4
@Piskvor: ha ha... apparently not me! It was meant to be a pun on 'Are there atheists in foxholes?'
– Jared Updike
Oct 30 '10 at 19:38
The answers seem low quality... I'm new here, please tell me: do the answer always defer to my high school English teacher?
– Joe Coder
Aug 7 '16 at 6:23
add a comment |
5
Are their grammarians in fo'c'sles?
– Jared Updike
Aug 6 '10 at 4:58
2
It's fo'c's'le, though the apostrophe after the s is sometimes omitted. Forecastle.
– TRiG
Oct 30 '10 at 4:13
2
@Jared Updike: Whose grammarians?
– Piskvor
Oct 30 '10 at 11:45
4
@Piskvor: ha ha... apparently not me! It was meant to be a pun on 'Are there atheists in foxholes?'
– Jared Updike
Oct 30 '10 at 19:38
The answers seem low quality... I'm new here, please tell me: do the answer always defer to my high school English teacher?
– Joe Coder
Aug 7 '16 at 6:23
5
5
Are their grammarians in fo'c'sles?
– Jared Updike
Aug 6 '10 at 4:58
Are their grammarians in fo'c'sles?
– Jared Updike
Aug 6 '10 at 4:58
2
2
It's fo'c's'le, though the apostrophe after the s is sometimes omitted. Forecastle.
– TRiG
Oct 30 '10 at 4:13
It's fo'c's'le, though the apostrophe after the s is sometimes omitted. Forecastle.
– TRiG
Oct 30 '10 at 4:13
2
2
@Jared Updike: Whose grammarians?
– Piskvor
Oct 30 '10 at 11:45
@Jared Updike: Whose grammarians?
– Piskvor
Oct 30 '10 at 11:45
4
4
@Piskvor: ha ha... apparently not me! It was meant to be a pun on 'Are there atheists in foxholes?'
– Jared Updike
Oct 30 '10 at 19:38
@Piskvor: ha ha... apparently not me! It was meant to be a pun on 'Are there atheists in foxholes?'
– Jared Updike
Oct 30 '10 at 19:38
The answers seem low quality... I'm new here, please tell me: do the answer always defer to my high school English teacher?
– Joe Coder
Aug 7 '16 at 6:23
The answers seem low quality... I'm new here, please tell me: do the answer always defer to my high school English teacher?
– Joe Coder
Aug 7 '16 at 6:23
add a comment |
13 Answers
13
active
oldest
votes
This is not the highest register, but you may hear it in speech. Native speakers tend to slur words together and leave out sounds even if they wouldn't write that way.
Double contractions are not used in writing. They may be grammatically correct, but a professor would not allow you to use them in an essay. Typically, even single contractions are avoided in formal writing.
14
Why is this grammatically incorrect? I + have = I've, and have + not = haven't, so why is I'ven't strictly incorrect? Who wrote we can't doubly contract? Is it principally "I'ven't" doesn't feel right to you? If so, then it's not incorrect. This flexibility is what makes the English language so powerful.
– David Foster
Aug 5 '10 at 21:24
4
@David, that is also what makes it one of the hardest languages to learn. At least it isn't tonal!
– Arlen Beiler
Aug 5 '10 at 21:32
3
My two sources of what is "right" in English are dictionaries and professors/teachers. You won't find "I'ven't" in the Oxford dictionary, and it's very unlikely that a professor would let that slide in an essay.
– mouche
Aug 5 '10 at 21:35
4
It might be impossible to find such a piece, but that doesn't change the fact that every English teacher I've ever had told everyone that using contractions in formal writing was Very Very Bad. The words were also underlined.
– kitukwfyer
Aug 6 '10 at 0:57
15
Perhaps I shouldn't've said anything.
– David Foster
Aug 6 '10 at 8:01
|
show 4 more comments
Two of my favorite double contractions are "couldn't've" and "shouldn't've", both of which are flagged by my spell checker, but seem completely correct to me.
9
What about when you get something like "y'all'dn't've" O_o (You all would not have)
– Ullallulloo
Oct 21 '10 at 22:37
16
Then you have achieved an admirable level of efficiency. ;)
– mskfisher
Oct 21 '10 at 23:41
1
I use shouldn't've a lot, I have to say - in informal typed conversation. That is how we say it colloquially in London, as in "Ya shouldn't've done that mate."
– Orbling
Dec 15 '10 at 17:29
1
What about I'm'nt (I'm not) same idea, but it sounds completely wrong to me.
– Nobody
Feb 3 '11 at 16:23
1
Wiktionary lists couldn’t’ve, but flags it as nonstandard.
– Edwin Ashworth
Dec 19 '15 at 16:29
|
show 2 more comments
"Fish 'n' chips" and similar phrases with "'n'" technically have a double-contracted "and."
1
"rock'n'roll" has a double contraction too. The difference with what asked from the OP is that the double contraction is not done on a verb.
– kiamlaluno
Aug 13 '10 at 19:09
3
Personally I wouldn't call that a double contraction, because you rarely, if ever, have the single contraction form (i.e.'nd
oran'
).
– DisgruntledGoat
Sep 7 '10 at 10:44
I'd say that in Australian English (at least my Adelaide version) we sometimes say Fish 'nd Chips and Rock 'nd Roll, but I doubt any one would normally type the d.
– Mark Hurd
Feb 17 '11 at 9:55
add a comment |
The example you give is not done in American English. You can't contract non-auxiliary "have". "I've not a clue if this is possible" is also not grammatical in American English. It may be in British English, though.
I copied this from a comment I left below, because I think it clarifies what I'm trying to say:
I've" is a fine contraction, just in American English you can only use it to replace "I have" when "have" is used as an auxiliary verb (e.g. in conjunction with a past participle). "I've been there" is OK. "I've a dog" is not. In the example "I'ven't a clue"—"I haven't a clue", the verb "have" is not auxiliary, so it can't be contracted with the pronoun "I".
No one's called me on saying "I've not" or "I'ven't" yet...
– kitukwfyer
Aug 5 '10 at 21:08
2
@kitukwfyer if you do that, you should know that you risk it coming off at best as a pseudo-British affectation and at worst as simple misuse.
– nohat♦
Aug 5 '10 at 21:12
1
I think it's generally because I talk too quickly and mumble a lot. :)
– kitukwfyer
Aug 5 '10 at 21:14
@nohat, I've never heard that before! I've is a common contraction (more often a common "leave out". "I got to go" instead of "I've got to go")
– Arlen Beiler
Aug 5 '10 at 21:35
3
"I've not a clue" is OK in British English, but tends to be limited to (a) certain regions, or (b) the past. To me as a Londoner, it sounds very old-fashioned, but it may be appropriate to use if you're from elsewhere in the UK.
– Steve Melnikoff
Aug 26 '10 at 12:17
|
show 1 more comment
I don't think you can get away with "I'ven't" in writing either. However, I think I've read "'tweren't," "'twouldn't," and "'twasn't" before. I'm guessing, though, that double contractions like that are never technically correct. Colloquially speaking, if you're understandable, anything goes.
2
Those sort of contractions starting with T (either by front contraction of it or rear contraction of the) are very common in Northern England, particularly the Yorkshire area. You can get quite pantomine with: "'twas", "'twasn't".
– Orbling
Dec 15 '10 at 17:14
1
"Not technically correct"? Nonsense!
– tchrist♦
Feb 5 '12 at 1:39
What is'tweren't
short for?
– Pacerier
Nov 5 '15 at 13:46
T'aint funny, McGee!
– Hot Licks
Dec 26 '15 at 15:23
add a comment |
I guess this isn't entirely formal standard English, but I'm pretty sure "y'all're," "y'all've," and "y'all'll" are accepted in areas that use "y'all" as the second person plural.
6
"If y'all'd started when I told you to, y'all'ld've already been done by now!" - No, I'm not making that up. I've never seen it written before, but I've heard (and said) things like it my whole life.
– Dennis Williamson
Aug 12 '10 at 21:19
add a comment |
I wouldn't use I'ven't in speech or writing. I've not perhaps, I haven't more likely. I do use, in both speech and writing, I'd've. I'd've thought this would be more common.
add a comment |
I would avoid doing that in any serious writing, but if you are looking for ways to do this creatively to affect a regional dialect, etc. I would suspect any text by Mark Twain would be a good source to find examples of this.
So... any writing that has quotation marks is fair game. ^_^
– OneProton
Aug 4 '17 at 19:13
add a comment |
See: 19th-century English: wo'n't and ca'n't
add a comment |
When you say "I've done it" it's pronounced something like [aiv donit] (with the stress on [ai]), but when you say "I haven't done it" it's pronounced something like [ai (h)avent donit] (with or without an h sound, with the stress on [av]). Since the initial "h" is very weak in English anyway it's superfluous to omit it with an apostrophe unless you're making a point about exactly how someone pronounced it.
If you're saying [ai hav donit] (with stress on [hav]), you should write it "I have done it", with or without the italics depending on how important the emphasis is.
(By the way, I'm not a native speaker, this is how I see it with my foreign eyes. I'm sure the phonetic spelling is all messed up, but I hope you understand it anyway...)
add a comment |
Nobody seems to have mentioned it, but what you'd be more likely to hear in British English is "I 'aven't"
.
As Steve Melnikoff commented, "I've not" is sometimes used in the UK, though his example reads strangely to me; I'd have suggested something like "I've not seen him before"
.
+1'aven't
is common, thoughain't
is used more.
– Orbling
Dec 15 '10 at 17:18
add a comment |
See also Apostrophes in contractions: shan't, sha'n't or sha'nt?.
I was looking into the example of sha'n't because I just ran across that spelling in Henry James's short story, "The Great Condition" (1900), where characters named Bertram Braddle and Henry Chilver converse as follows:
"A-ah!" Chilver murmered, as if only only now with a full view. "She means she'll speak when you are married."
"When we are. And then only on one great condition."
"How great?"
"Well, that if after six months I still want it very much. She argues, you know, that I sha'n't want it."
"You won't then—you won't!"cried Chilver with a laugh at the odd word and passing his arm into his friend's to make him walk again.
There are several striking things about this occurrence of sha'n't. First, in the many stories that James wrote between 1892 and 1900, the spelling with two apostrophes occurs only this once (I believe). Notably, James doesn't spell won't with two apostrophes one line later—and more to the point, he spelled shan't with one apostrophe earlier in the same story:
"Shan't I go with you to the station?" his companion [Chilver] asked.
And finally, Chilver is particularly struck by "the odd word," though he himself used shan't earlier. This suggests that James is using the double punctuation to indicate an unusual pronunciation of the word sha'n't (perhaps as two syllables: sha-ent?), much as he uses a hyphen to indicate an unusual pronunciation or drawing out of "A-ah!" at the beginning of the quoted dialogue.
In any event, it's clear that writers can and do sometimes use two apostrophes in a single contraction, just as they can and sometimes do compress multiple words into one (as in the case of whadya for "what do you") without using any punctuation to clarify what's going on.
add a comment |
Not sure if it counts, but o'clock is a contraction of "of the clock".
add a comment |
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13 Answers
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13 Answers
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active
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active
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This is not the highest register, but you may hear it in speech. Native speakers tend to slur words together and leave out sounds even if they wouldn't write that way.
Double contractions are not used in writing. They may be grammatically correct, but a professor would not allow you to use them in an essay. Typically, even single contractions are avoided in formal writing.
14
Why is this grammatically incorrect? I + have = I've, and have + not = haven't, so why is I'ven't strictly incorrect? Who wrote we can't doubly contract? Is it principally "I'ven't" doesn't feel right to you? If so, then it's not incorrect. This flexibility is what makes the English language so powerful.
– David Foster
Aug 5 '10 at 21:24
4
@David, that is also what makes it one of the hardest languages to learn. At least it isn't tonal!
– Arlen Beiler
Aug 5 '10 at 21:32
3
My two sources of what is "right" in English are dictionaries and professors/teachers. You won't find "I'ven't" in the Oxford dictionary, and it's very unlikely that a professor would let that slide in an essay.
– mouche
Aug 5 '10 at 21:35
4
It might be impossible to find such a piece, but that doesn't change the fact that every English teacher I've ever had told everyone that using contractions in formal writing was Very Very Bad. The words were also underlined.
– kitukwfyer
Aug 6 '10 at 0:57
15
Perhaps I shouldn't've said anything.
– David Foster
Aug 6 '10 at 8:01
|
show 4 more comments
This is not the highest register, but you may hear it in speech. Native speakers tend to slur words together and leave out sounds even if they wouldn't write that way.
Double contractions are not used in writing. They may be grammatically correct, but a professor would not allow you to use them in an essay. Typically, even single contractions are avoided in formal writing.
14
Why is this grammatically incorrect? I + have = I've, and have + not = haven't, so why is I'ven't strictly incorrect? Who wrote we can't doubly contract? Is it principally "I'ven't" doesn't feel right to you? If so, then it's not incorrect. This flexibility is what makes the English language so powerful.
– David Foster
Aug 5 '10 at 21:24
4
@David, that is also what makes it one of the hardest languages to learn. At least it isn't tonal!
– Arlen Beiler
Aug 5 '10 at 21:32
3
My two sources of what is "right" in English are dictionaries and professors/teachers. You won't find "I'ven't" in the Oxford dictionary, and it's very unlikely that a professor would let that slide in an essay.
– mouche
Aug 5 '10 at 21:35
4
It might be impossible to find such a piece, but that doesn't change the fact that every English teacher I've ever had told everyone that using contractions in formal writing was Very Very Bad. The words were also underlined.
– kitukwfyer
Aug 6 '10 at 0:57
15
Perhaps I shouldn't've said anything.
– David Foster
Aug 6 '10 at 8:01
|
show 4 more comments
This is not the highest register, but you may hear it in speech. Native speakers tend to slur words together and leave out sounds even if they wouldn't write that way.
Double contractions are not used in writing. They may be grammatically correct, but a professor would not allow you to use them in an essay. Typically, even single contractions are avoided in formal writing.
This is not the highest register, but you may hear it in speech. Native speakers tend to slur words together and leave out sounds even if they wouldn't write that way.
Double contractions are not used in writing. They may be grammatically correct, but a professor would not allow you to use them in an essay. Typically, even single contractions are avoided in formal writing.
edited Apr 25 '14 at 19:48
RegDwigнt♦
83.6k31282382
83.6k31282382
answered Aug 5 '10 at 21:03
mouchemouche
1,16221111
1,16221111
14
Why is this grammatically incorrect? I + have = I've, and have + not = haven't, so why is I'ven't strictly incorrect? Who wrote we can't doubly contract? Is it principally "I'ven't" doesn't feel right to you? If so, then it's not incorrect. This flexibility is what makes the English language so powerful.
– David Foster
Aug 5 '10 at 21:24
4
@David, that is also what makes it one of the hardest languages to learn. At least it isn't tonal!
– Arlen Beiler
Aug 5 '10 at 21:32
3
My two sources of what is "right" in English are dictionaries and professors/teachers. You won't find "I'ven't" in the Oxford dictionary, and it's very unlikely that a professor would let that slide in an essay.
– mouche
Aug 5 '10 at 21:35
4
It might be impossible to find such a piece, but that doesn't change the fact that every English teacher I've ever had told everyone that using contractions in formal writing was Very Very Bad. The words were also underlined.
– kitukwfyer
Aug 6 '10 at 0:57
15
Perhaps I shouldn't've said anything.
– David Foster
Aug 6 '10 at 8:01
|
show 4 more comments
14
Why is this grammatically incorrect? I + have = I've, and have + not = haven't, so why is I'ven't strictly incorrect? Who wrote we can't doubly contract? Is it principally "I'ven't" doesn't feel right to you? If so, then it's not incorrect. This flexibility is what makes the English language so powerful.
– David Foster
Aug 5 '10 at 21:24
4
@David, that is also what makes it one of the hardest languages to learn. At least it isn't tonal!
– Arlen Beiler
Aug 5 '10 at 21:32
3
My two sources of what is "right" in English are dictionaries and professors/teachers. You won't find "I'ven't" in the Oxford dictionary, and it's very unlikely that a professor would let that slide in an essay.
– mouche
Aug 5 '10 at 21:35
4
It might be impossible to find such a piece, but that doesn't change the fact that every English teacher I've ever had told everyone that using contractions in formal writing was Very Very Bad. The words were also underlined.
– kitukwfyer
Aug 6 '10 at 0:57
15
Perhaps I shouldn't've said anything.
– David Foster
Aug 6 '10 at 8:01
14
14
Why is this grammatically incorrect? I + have = I've, and have + not = haven't, so why is I'ven't strictly incorrect? Who wrote we can't doubly contract? Is it principally "I'ven't" doesn't feel right to you? If so, then it's not incorrect. This flexibility is what makes the English language so powerful.
– David Foster
Aug 5 '10 at 21:24
Why is this grammatically incorrect? I + have = I've, and have + not = haven't, so why is I'ven't strictly incorrect? Who wrote we can't doubly contract? Is it principally "I'ven't" doesn't feel right to you? If so, then it's not incorrect. This flexibility is what makes the English language so powerful.
– David Foster
Aug 5 '10 at 21:24
4
4
@David, that is also what makes it one of the hardest languages to learn. At least it isn't tonal!
– Arlen Beiler
Aug 5 '10 at 21:32
@David, that is also what makes it one of the hardest languages to learn. At least it isn't tonal!
– Arlen Beiler
Aug 5 '10 at 21:32
3
3
My two sources of what is "right" in English are dictionaries and professors/teachers. You won't find "I'ven't" in the Oxford dictionary, and it's very unlikely that a professor would let that slide in an essay.
– mouche
Aug 5 '10 at 21:35
My two sources of what is "right" in English are dictionaries and professors/teachers. You won't find "I'ven't" in the Oxford dictionary, and it's very unlikely that a professor would let that slide in an essay.
– mouche
Aug 5 '10 at 21:35
4
4
It might be impossible to find such a piece, but that doesn't change the fact that every English teacher I've ever had told everyone that using contractions in formal writing was Very Very Bad. The words were also underlined.
– kitukwfyer
Aug 6 '10 at 0:57
It might be impossible to find such a piece, but that doesn't change the fact that every English teacher I've ever had told everyone that using contractions in formal writing was Very Very Bad. The words were also underlined.
– kitukwfyer
Aug 6 '10 at 0:57
15
15
Perhaps I shouldn't've said anything.
– David Foster
Aug 6 '10 at 8:01
Perhaps I shouldn't've said anything.
– David Foster
Aug 6 '10 at 8:01
|
show 4 more comments
Two of my favorite double contractions are "couldn't've" and "shouldn't've", both of which are flagged by my spell checker, but seem completely correct to me.
9
What about when you get something like "y'all'dn't've" O_o (You all would not have)
– Ullallulloo
Oct 21 '10 at 22:37
16
Then you have achieved an admirable level of efficiency. ;)
– mskfisher
Oct 21 '10 at 23:41
1
I use shouldn't've a lot, I have to say - in informal typed conversation. That is how we say it colloquially in London, as in "Ya shouldn't've done that mate."
– Orbling
Dec 15 '10 at 17:29
1
What about I'm'nt (I'm not) same idea, but it sounds completely wrong to me.
– Nobody
Feb 3 '11 at 16:23
1
Wiktionary lists couldn’t’ve, but flags it as nonstandard.
– Edwin Ashworth
Dec 19 '15 at 16:29
|
show 2 more comments
Two of my favorite double contractions are "couldn't've" and "shouldn't've", both of which are flagged by my spell checker, but seem completely correct to me.
9
What about when you get something like "y'all'dn't've" O_o (You all would not have)
– Ullallulloo
Oct 21 '10 at 22:37
16
Then you have achieved an admirable level of efficiency. ;)
– mskfisher
Oct 21 '10 at 23:41
1
I use shouldn't've a lot, I have to say - in informal typed conversation. That is how we say it colloquially in London, as in "Ya shouldn't've done that mate."
– Orbling
Dec 15 '10 at 17:29
1
What about I'm'nt (I'm not) same idea, but it sounds completely wrong to me.
– Nobody
Feb 3 '11 at 16:23
1
Wiktionary lists couldn’t’ve, but flags it as nonstandard.
– Edwin Ashworth
Dec 19 '15 at 16:29
|
show 2 more comments
Two of my favorite double contractions are "couldn't've" and "shouldn't've", both of which are flagged by my spell checker, but seem completely correct to me.
Two of my favorite double contractions are "couldn't've" and "shouldn't've", both of which are flagged by my spell checker, but seem completely correct to me.
answered Sep 20 '10 at 15:32
mskfishermskfisher
1,65131821
1,65131821
9
What about when you get something like "y'all'dn't've" O_o (You all would not have)
– Ullallulloo
Oct 21 '10 at 22:37
16
Then you have achieved an admirable level of efficiency. ;)
– mskfisher
Oct 21 '10 at 23:41
1
I use shouldn't've a lot, I have to say - in informal typed conversation. That is how we say it colloquially in London, as in "Ya shouldn't've done that mate."
– Orbling
Dec 15 '10 at 17:29
1
What about I'm'nt (I'm not) same idea, but it sounds completely wrong to me.
– Nobody
Feb 3 '11 at 16:23
1
Wiktionary lists couldn’t’ve, but flags it as nonstandard.
– Edwin Ashworth
Dec 19 '15 at 16:29
|
show 2 more comments
9
What about when you get something like "y'all'dn't've" O_o (You all would not have)
– Ullallulloo
Oct 21 '10 at 22:37
16
Then you have achieved an admirable level of efficiency. ;)
– mskfisher
Oct 21 '10 at 23:41
1
I use shouldn't've a lot, I have to say - in informal typed conversation. That is how we say it colloquially in London, as in "Ya shouldn't've done that mate."
– Orbling
Dec 15 '10 at 17:29
1
What about I'm'nt (I'm not) same idea, but it sounds completely wrong to me.
– Nobody
Feb 3 '11 at 16:23
1
Wiktionary lists couldn’t’ve, but flags it as nonstandard.
– Edwin Ashworth
Dec 19 '15 at 16:29
9
9
What about when you get something like "y'all'dn't've" O_o (You all would not have)
– Ullallulloo
Oct 21 '10 at 22:37
What about when you get something like "y'all'dn't've" O_o (You all would not have)
– Ullallulloo
Oct 21 '10 at 22:37
16
16
Then you have achieved an admirable level of efficiency. ;)
– mskfisher
Oct 21 '10 at 23:41
Then you have achieved an admirable level of efficiency. ;)
– mskfisher
Oct 21 '10 at 23:41
1
1
I use shouldn't've a lot, I have to say - in informal typed conversation. That is how we say it colloquially in London, as in "Ya shouldn't've done that mate."
– Orbling
Dec 15 '10 at 17:29
I use shouldn't've a lot, I have to say - in informal typed conversation. That is how we say it colloquially in London, as in "Ya shouldn't've done that mate."
– Orbling
Dec 15 '10 at 17:29
1
1
What about I'm'nt (I'm not) same idea, but it sounds completely wrong to me.
– Nobody
Feb 3 '11 at 16:23
What about I'm'nt (I'm not) same idea, but it sounds completely wrong to me.
– Nobody
Feb 3 '11 at 16:23
1
1
Wiktionary lists couldn’t’ve, but flags it as nonstandard.
– Edwin Ashworth
Dec 19 '15 at 16:29
Wiktionary lists couldn’t’ve, but flags it as nonstandard.
– Edwin Ashworth
Dec 19 '15 at 16:29
|
show 2 more comments
"Fish 'n' chips" and similar phrases with "'n'" technically have a double-contracted "and."
1
"rock'n'roll" has a double contraction too. The difference with what asked from the OP is that the double contraction is not done on a verb.
– kiamlaluno
Aug 13 '10 at 19:09
3
Personally I wouldn't call that a double contraction, because you rarely, if ever, have the single contraction form (i.e.'nd
oran'
).
– DisgruntledGoat
Sep 7 '10 at 10:44
I'd say that in Australian English (at least my Adelaide version) we sometimes say Fish 'nd Chips and Rock 'nd Roll, but I doubt any one would normally type the d.
– Mark Hurd
Feb 17 '11 at 9:55
add a comment |
"Fish 'n' chips" and similar phrases with "'n'" technically have a double-contracted "and."
1
"rock'n'roll" has a double contraction too. The difference with what asked from the OP is that the double contraction is not done on a verb.
– kiamlaluno
Aug 13 '10 at 19:09
3
Personally I wouldn't call that a double contraction, because you rarely, if ever, have the single contraction form (i.e.'nd
oran'
).
– DisgruntledGoat
Sep 7 '10 at 10:44
I'd say that in Australian English (at least my Adelaide version) we sometimes say Fish 'nd Chips and Rock 'nd Roll, but I doubt any one would normally type the d.
– Mark Hurd
Feb 17 '11 at 9:55
add a comment |
"Fish 'n' chips" and similar phrases with "'n'" technically have a double-contracted "and."
"Fish 'n' chips" and similar phrases with "'n'" technically have a double-contracted "and."
answered Aug 5 '10 at 22:10
moiocimoioci
4,31411414
4,31411414
1
"rock'n'roll" has a double contraction too. The difference with what asked from the OP is that the double contraction is not done on a verb.
– kiamlaluno
Aug 13 '10 at 19:09
3
Personally I wouldn't call that a double contraction, because you rarely, if ever, have the single contraction form (i.e.'nd
oran'
).
– DisgruntledGoat
Sep 7 '10 at 10:44
I'd say that in Australian English (at least my Adelaide version) we sometimes say Fish 'nd Chips and Rock 'nd Roll, but I doubt any one would normally type the d.
– Mark Hurd
Feb 17 '11 at 9:55
add a comment |
1
"rock'n'roll" has a double contraction too. The difference with what asked from the OP is that the double contraction is not done on a verb.
– kiamlaluno
Aug 13 '10 at 19:09
3
Personally I wouldn't call that a double contraction, because you rarely, if ever, have the single contraction form (i.e.'nd
oran'
).
– DisgruntledGoat
Sep 7 '10 at 10:44
I'd say that in Australian English (at least my Adelaide version) we sometimes say Fish 'nd Chips and Rock 'nd Roll, but I doubt any one would normally type the d.
– Mark Hurd
Feb 17 '11 at 9:55
1
1
"rock'n'roll" has a double contraction too. The difference with what asked from the OP is that the double contraction is not done on a verb.
– kiamlaluno
Aug 13 '10 at 19:09
"rock'n'roll" has a double contraction too. The difference with what asked from the OP is that the double contraction is not done on a verb.
– kiamlaluno
Aug 13 '10 at 19:09
3
3
Personally I wouldn't call that a double contraction, because you rarely, if ever, have the single contraction form (i.e.
'nd
or an'
).– DisgruntledGoat
Sep 7 '10 at 10:44
Personally I wouldn't call that a double contraction, because you rarely, if ever, have the single contraction form (i.e.
'nd
or an'
).– DisgruntledGoat
Sep 7 '10 at 10:44
I'd say that in Australian English (at least my Adelaide version) we sometimes say Fish 'nd Chips and Rock 'nd Roll, but I doubt any one would normally type the d.
– Mark Hurd
Feb 17 '11 at 9:55
I'd say that in Australian English (at least my Adelaide version) we sometimes say Fish 'nd Chips and Rock 'nd Roll, but I doubt any one would normally type the d.
– Mark Hurd
Feb 17 '11 at 9:55
add a comment |
The example you give is not done in American English. You can't contract non-auxiliary "have". "I've not a clue if this is possible" is also not grammatical in American English. It may be in British English, though.
I copied this from a comment I left below, because I think it clarifies what I'm trying to say:
I've" is a fine contraction, just in American English you can only use it to replace "I have" when "have" is used as an auxiliary verb (e.g. in conjunction with a past participle). "I've been there" is OK. "I've a dog" is not. In the example "I'ven't a clue"—"I haven't a clue", the verb "have" is not auxiliary, so it can't be contracted with the pronoun "I".
No one's called me on saying "I've not" or "I'ven't" yet...
– kitukwfyer
Aug 5 '10 at 21:08
2
@kitukwfyer if you do that, you should know that you risk it coming off at best as a pseudo-British affectation and at worst as simple misuse.
– nohat♦
Aug 5 '10 at 21:12
1
I think it's generally because I talk too quickly and mumble a lot. :)
– kitukwfyer
Aug 5 '10 at 21:14
@nohat, I've never heard that before! I've is a common contraction (more often a common "leave out". "I got to go" instead of "I've got to go")
– Arlen Beiler
Aug 5 '10 at 21:35
3
"I've not a clue" is OK in British English, but tends to be limited to (a) certain regions, or (b) the past. To me as a Londoner, it sounds very old-fashioned, but it may be appropriate to use if you're from elsewhere in the UK.
– Steve Melnikoff
Aug 26 '10 at 12:17
|
show 1 more comment
The example you give is not done in American English. You can't contract non-auxiliary "have". "I've not a clue if this is possible" is also not grammatical in American English. It may be in British English, though.
I copied this from a comment I left below, because I think it clarifies what I'm trying to say:
I've" is a fine contraction, just in American English you can only use it to replace "I have" when "have" is used as an auxiliary verb (e.g. in conjunction with a past participle). "I've been there" is OK. "I've a dog" is not. In the example "I'ven't a clue"—"I haven't a clue", the verb "have" is not auxiliary, so it can't be contracted with the pronoun "I".
No one's called me on saying "I've not" or "I'ven't" yet...
– kitukwfyer
Aug 5 '10 at 21:08
2
@kitukwfyer if you do that, you should know that you risk it coming off at best as a pseudo-British affectation and at worst as simple misuse.
– nohat♦
Aug 5 '10 at 21:12
1
I think it's generally because I talk too quickly and mumble a lot. :)
– kitukwfyer
Aug 5 '10 at 21:14
@nohat, I've never heard that before! I've is a common contraction (more often a common "leave out". "I got to go" instead of "I've got to go")
– Arlen Beiler
Aug 5 '10 at 21:35
3
"I've not a clue" is OK in British English, but tends to be limited to (a) certain regions, or (b) the past. To me as a Londoner, it sounds very old-fashioned, but it may be appropriate to use if you're from elsewhere in the UK.
– Steve Melnikoff
Aug 26 '10 at 12:17
|
show 1 more comment
The example you give is not done in American English. You can't contract non-auxiliary "have". "I've not a clue if this is possible" is also not grammatical in American English. It may be in British English, though.
I copied this from a comment I left below, because I think it clarifies what I'm trying to say:
I've" is a fine contraction, just in American English you can only use it to replace "I have" when "have" is used as an auxiliary verb (e.g. in conjunction with a past participle). "I've been there" is OK. "I've a dog" is not. In the example "I'ven't a clue"—"I haven't a clue", the verb "have" is not auxiliary, so it can't be contracted with the pronoun "I".
The example you give is not done in American English. You can't contract non-auxiliary "have". "I've not a clue if this is possible" is also not grammatical in American English. It may be in British English, though.
I copied this from a comment I left below, because I think it clarifies what I'm trying to say:
I've" is a fine contraction, just in American English you can only use it to replace "I have" when "have" is used as an auxiliary verb (e.g. in conjunction with a past participle). "I've been there" is OK. "I've a dog" is not. In the example "I'ven't a clue"—"I haven't a clue", the verb "have" is not auxiliary, so it can't be contracted with the pronoun "I".
edited Aug 5 '10 at 23:17
answered Aug 5 '10 at 20:53
nohat♦nohat
61k12171239
61k12171239
No one's called me on saying "I've not" or "I'ven't" yet...
– kitukwfyer
Aug 5 '10 at 21:08
2
@kitukwfyer if you do that, you should know that you risk it coming off at best as a pseudo-British affectation and at worst as simple misuse.
– nohat♦
Aug 5 '10 at 21:12
1
I think it's generally because I talk too quickly and mumble a lot. :)
– kitukwfyer
Aug 5 '10 at 21:14
@nohat, I've never heard that before! I've is a common contraction (more often a common "leave out". "I got to go" instead of "I've got to go")
– Arlen Beiler
Aug 5 '10 at 21:35
3
"I've not a clue" is OK in British English, but tends to be limited to (a) certain regions, or (b) the past. To me as a Londoner, it sounds very old-fashioned, but it may be appropriate to use if you're from elsewhere in the UK.
– Steve Melnikoff
Aug 26 '10 at 12:17
|
show 1 more comment
No one's called me on saying "I've not" or "I'ven't" yet...
– kitukwfyer
Aug 5 '10 at 21:08
2
@kitukwfyer if you do that, you should know that you risk it coming off at best as a pseudo-British affectation and at worst as simple misuse.
– nohat♦
Aug 5 '10 at 21:12
1
I think it's generally because I talk too quickly and mumble a lot. :)
– kitukwfyer
Aug 5 '10 at 21:14
@nohat, I've never heard that before! I've is a common contraction (more often a common "leave out". "I got to go" instead of "I've got to go")
– Arlen Beiler
Aug 5 '10 at 21:35
3
"I've not a clue" is OK in British English, but tends to be limited to (a) certain regions, or (b) the past. To me as a Londoner, it sounds very old-fashioned, but it may be appropriate to use if you're from elsewhere in the UK.
– Steve Melnikoff
Aug 26 '10 at 12:17
No one's called me on saying "I've not" or "I'ven't" yet...
– kitukwfyer
Aug 5 '10 at 21:08
No one's called me on saying "I've not" or "I'ven't" yet...
– kitukwfyer
Aug 5 '10 at 21:08
2
2
@kitukwfyer if you do that, you should know that you risk it coming off at best as a pseudo-British affectation and at worst as simple misuse.
– nohat♦
Aug 5 '10 at 21:12
@kitukwfyer if you do that, you should know that you risk it coming off at best as a pseudo-British affectation and at worst as simple misuse.
– nohat♦
Aug 5 '10 at 21:12
1
1
I think it's generally because I talk too quickly and mumble a lot. :)
– kitukwfyer
Aug 5 '10 at 21:14
I think it's generally because I talk too quickly and mumble a lot. :)
– kitukwfyer
Aug 5 '10 at 21:14
@nohat, I've never heard that before! I've is a common contraction (more often a common "leave out". "I got to go" instead of "I've got to go")
– Arlen Beiler
Aug 5 '10 at 21:35
@nohat, I've never heard that before! I've is a common contraction (more often a common "leave out". "I got to go" instead of "I've got to go")
– Arlen Beiler
Aug 5 '10 at 21:35
3
3
"I've not a clue" is OK in British English, but tends to be limited to (a) certain regions, or (b) the past. To me as a Londoner, it sounds very old-fashioned, but it may be appropriate to use if you're from elsewhere in the UK.
– Steve Melnikoff
Aug 26 '10 at 12:17
"I've not a clue" is OK in British English, but tends to be limited to (a) certain regions, or (b) the past. To me as a Londoner, it sounds very old-fashioned, but it may be appropriate to use if you're from elsewhere in the UK.
– Steve Melnikoff
Aug 26 '10 at 12:17
|
show 1 more comment
I don't think you can get away with "I'ven't" in writing either. However, I think I've read "'tweren't," "'twouldn't," and "'twasn't" before. I'm guessing, though, that double contractions like that are never technically correct. Colloquially speaking, if you're understandable, anything goes.
2
Those sort of contractions starting with T (either by front contraction of it or rear contraction of the) are very common in Northern England, particularly the Yorkshire area. You can get quite pantomine with: "'twas", "'twasn't".
– Orbling
Dec 15 '10 at 17:14
1
"Not technically correct"? Nonsense!
– tchrist♦
Feb 5 '12 at 1:39
What is'tweren't
short for?
– Pacerier
Nov 5 '15 at 13:46
T'aint funny, McGee!
– Hot Licks
Dec 26 '15 at 15:23
add a comment |
I don't think you can get away with "I'ven't" in writing either. However, I think I've read "'tweren't," "'twouldn't," and "'twasn't" before. I'm guessing, though, that double contractions like that are never technically correct. Colloquially speaking, if you're understandable, anything goes.
2
Those sort of contractions starting with T (either by front contraction of it or rear contraction of the) are very common in Northern England, particularly the Yorkshire area. You can get quite pantomine with: "'twas", "'twasn't".
– Orbling
Dec 15 '10 at 17:14
1
"Not technically correct"? Nonsense!
– tchrist♦
Feb 5 '12 at 1:39
What is'tweren't
short for?
– Pacerier
Nov 5 '15 at 13:46
T'aint funny, McGee!
– Hot Licks
Dec 26 '15 at 15:23
add a comment |
I don't think you can get away with "I'ven't" in writing either. However, I think I've read "'tweren't," "'twouldn't," and "'twasn't" before. I'm guessing, though, that double contractions like that are never technically correct. Colloquially speaking, if you're understandable, anything goes.
I don't think you can get away with "I'ven't" in writing either. However, I think I've read "'tweren't," "'twouldn't," and "'twasn't" before. I'm guessing, though, that double contractions like that are never technically correct. Colloquially speaking, if you're understandable, anything goes.
answered Aug 5 '10 at 21:13
kitukwfyerkitukwfyer
3,6401921
3,6401921
2
Those sort of contractions starting with T (either by front contraction of it or rear contraction of the) are very common in Northern England, particularly the Yorkshire area. You can get quite pantomine with: "'twas", "'twasn't".
– Orbling
Dec 15 '10 at 17:14
1
"Not technically correct"? Nonsense!
– tchrist♦
Feb 5 '12 at 1:39
What is'tweren't
short for?
– Pacerier
Nov 5 '15 at 13:46
T'aint funny, McGee!
– Hot Licks
Dec 26 '15 at 15:23
add a comment |
2
Those sort of contractions starting with T (either by front contraction of it or rear contraction of the) are very common in Northern England, particularly the Yorkshire area. You can get quite pantomine with: "'twas", "'twasn't".
– Orbling
Dec 15 '10 at 17:14
1
"Not technically correct"? Nonsense!
– tchrist♦
Feb 5 '12 at 1:39
What is'tweren't
short for?
– Pacerier
Nov 5 '15 at 13:46
T'aint funny, McGee!
– Hot Licks
Dec 26 '15 at 15:23
2
2
Those sort of contractions starting with T (either by front contraction of it or rear contraction of the) are very common in Northern England, particularly the Yorkshire area. You can get quite pantomine with: "'twas", "'twasn't".
– Orbling
Dec 15 '10 at 17:14
Those sort of contractions starting with T (either by front contraction of it or rear contraction of the) are very common in Northern England, particularly the Yorkshire area. You can get quite pantomine with: "'twas", "'twasn't".
– Orbling
Dec 15 '10 at 17:14
1
1
"Not technically correct"? Nonsense!
– tchrist♦
Feb 5 '12 at 1:39
"Not technically correct"? Nonsense!
– tchrist♦
Feb 5 '12 at 1:39
What is
'tweren't
short for?– Pacerier
Nov 5 '15 at 13:46
What is
'tweren't
short for?– Pacerier
Nov 5 '15 at 13:46
T'aint funny, McGee!
– Hot Licks
Dec 26 '15 at 15:23
T'aint funny, McGee!
– Hot Licks
Dec 26 '15 at 15:23
add a comment |
I guess this isn't entirely formal standard English, but I'm pretty sure "y'all're," "y'all've," and "y'all'll" are accepted in areas that use "y'all" as the second person plural.
6
"If y'all'd started when I told you to, y'all'ld've already been done by now!" - No, I'm not making that up. I've never seen it written before, but I've heard (and said) things like it my whole life.
– Dennis Williamson
Aug 12 '10 at 21:19
add a comment |
I guess this isn't entirely formal standard English, but I'm pretty sure "y'all're," "y'all've," and "y'all'll" are accepted in areas that use "y'all" as the second person plural.
6
"If y'all'd started when I told you to, y'all'ld've already been done by now!" - No, I'm not making that up. I've never seen it written before, but I've heard (and said) things like it my whole life.
– Dennis Williamson
Aug 12 '10 at 21:19
add a comment |
I guess this isn't entirely formal standard English, but I'm pretty sure "y'all're," "y'all've," and "y'all'll" are accepted in areas that use "y'all" as the second person plural.
I guess this isn't entirely formal standard English, but I'm pretty sure "y'all're," "y'all've," and "y'all'll" are accepted in areas that use "y'all" as the second person plural.
answered Aug 5 '10 at 21:24
OphiuroidOphiuroid
979711
979711
6
"If y'all'd started when I told you to, y'all'ld've already been done by now!" - No, I'm not making that up. I've never seen it written before, but I've heard (and said) things like it my whole life.
– Dennis Williamson
Aug 12 '10 at 21:19
add a comment |
6
"If y'all'd started when I told you to, y'all'ld've already been done by now!" - No, I'm not making that up. I've never seen it written before, but I've heard (and said) things like it my whole life.
– Dennis Williamson
Aug 12 '10 at 21:19
6
6
"If y'all'd started when I told you to, y'all'ld've already been done by now!" - No, I'm not making that up. I've never seen it written before, but I've heard (and said) things like it my whole life.
– Dennis Williamson
Aug 12 '10 at 21:19
"If y'all'd started when I told you to, y'all'ld've already been done by now!" - No, I'm not making that up. I've never seen it written before, but I've heard (and said) things like it my whole life.
– Dennis Williamson
Aug 12 '10 at 21:19
add a comment |
I wouldn't use I'ven't in speech or writing. I've not perhaps, I haven't more likely. I do use, in both speech and writing, I'd've. I'd've thought this would be more common.
add a comment |
I wouldn't use I'ven't in speech or writing. I've not perhaps, I haven't more likely. I do use, in both speech and writing, I'd've. I'd've thought this would be more common.
add a comment |
I wouldn't use I'ven't in speech or writing. I've not perhaps, I haven't more likely. I do use, in both speech and writing, I'd've. I'd've thought this would be more common.
I wouldn't use I'ven't in speech or writing. I've not perhaps, I haven't more likely. I do use, in both speech and writing, I'd've. I'd've thought this would be more common.
answered Oct 30 '10 at 4:17
TRiGTRiG
4,95733757
4,95733757
add a comment |
add a comment |
I would avoid doing that in any serious writing, but if you are looking for ways to do this creatively to affect a regional dialect, etc. I would suspect any text by Mark Twain would be a good source to find examples of this.
So... any writing that has quotation marks is fair game. ^_^
– OneProton
Aug 4 '17 at 19:13
add a comment |
I would avoid doing that in any serious writing, but if you are looking for ways to do this creatively to affect a regional dialect, etc. I would suspect any text by Mark Twain would be a good source to find examples of this.
So... any writing that has quotation marks is fair game. ^_^
– OneProton
Aug 4 '17 at 19:13
add a comment |
I would avoid doing that in any serious writing, but if you are looking for ways to do this creatively to affect a regional dialect, etc. I would suspect any text by Mark Twain would be a good source to find examples of this.
I would avoid doing that in any serious writing, but if you are looking for ways to do this creatively to affect a regional dialect, etc. I would suspect any text by Mark Twain would be a good source to find examples of this.
answered Aug 5 '10 at 21:32
Edward TanguayEdward Tanguay
10.9k165364
10.9k165364
So... any writing that has quotation marks is fair game. ^_^
– OneProton
Aug 4 '17 at 19:13
add a comment |
So... any writing that has quotation marks is fair game. ^_^
– OneProton
Aug 4 '17 at 19:13
So... any writing that has quotation marks is fair game. ^_^
– OneProton
Aug 4 '17 at 19:13
So... any writing that has quotation marks is fair game. ^_^
– OneProton
Aug 4 '17 at 19:13
add a comment |
See: 19th-century English: wo'n't and ca'n't
add a comment |
See: 19th-century English: wo'n't and ca'n't
add a comment |
See: 19th-century English: wo'n't and ca'n't
See: 19th-century English: wo'n't and ca'n't
answered Aug 3 '11 at 21:26
GEdgarGEdgar
13.9k22045
13.9k22045
add a comment |
add a comment |
When you say "I've done it" it's pronounced something like [aiv donit] (with the stress on [ai]), but when you say "I haven't done it" it's pronounced something like [ai (h)avent donit] (with or without an h sound, with the stress on [av]). Since the initial "h" is very weak in English anyway it's superfluous to omit it with an apostrophe unless you're making a point about exactly how someone pronounced it.
If you're saying [ai hav donit] (with stress on [hav]), you should write it "I have done it", with or without the italics depending on how important the emphasis is.
(By the way, I'm not a native speaker, this is how I see it with my foreign eyes. I'm sure the phonetic spelling is all messed up, but I hope you understand it anyway...)
add a comment |
When you say "I've done it" it's pronounced something like [aiv donit] (with the stress on [ai]), but when you say "I haven't done it" it's pronounced something like [ai (h)avent donit] (with or without an h sound, with the stress on [av]). Since the initial "h" is very weak in English anyway it's superfluous to omit it with an apostrophe unless you're making a point about exactly how someone pronounced it.
If you're saying [ai hav donit] (with stress on [hav]), you should write it "I have done it", with or without the italics depending on how important the emphasis is.
(By the way, I'm not a native speaker, this is how I see it with my foreign eyes. I'm sure the phonetic spelling is all messed up, but I hope you understand it anyway...)
add a comment |
When you say "I've done it" it's pronounced something like [aiv donit] (with the stress on [ai]), but when you say "I haven't done it" it's pronounced something like [ai (h)avent donit] (with or without an h sound, with the stress on [av]). Since the initial "h" is very weak in English anyway it's superfluous to omit it with an apostrophe unless you're making a point about exactly how someone pronounced it.
If you're saying [ai hav donit] (with stress on [hav]), you should write it "I have done it", with or without the italics depending on how important the emphasis is.
(By the way, I'm not a native speaker, this is how I see it with my foreign eyes. I'm sure the phonetic spelling is all messed up, but I hope you understand it anyway...)
When you say "I've done it" it's pronounced something like [aiv donit] (with the stress on [ai]), but when you say "I haven't done it" it's pronounced something like [ai (h)avent donit] (with or without an h sound, with the stress on [av]). Since the initial "h" is very weak in English anyway it's superfluous to omit it with an apostrophe unless you're making a point about exactly how someone pronounced it.
If you're saying [ai hav donit] (with stress on [hav]), you should write it "I have done it", with or without the italics depending on how important the emphasis is.
(By the way, I'm not a native speaker, this is how I see it with my foreign eyes. I'm sure the phonetic spelling is all messed up, but I hope you understand it anyway...)
answered Dec 15 '10 at 10:14
Stein G. StrindhaugStein G. Strindhaug
72157
72157
add a comment |
add a comment |
Nobody seems to have mentioned it, but what you'd be more likely to hear in British English is "I 'aven't"
.
As Steve Melnikoff commented, "I've not" is sometimes used in the UK, though his example reads strangely to me; I'd have suggested something like "I've not seen him before"
.
+1'aven't
is common, thoughain't
is used more.
– Orbling
Dec 15 '10 at 17:18
add a comment |
Nobody seems to have mentioned it, but what you'd be more likely to hear in British English is "I 'aven't"
.
As Steve Melnikoff commented, "I've not" is sometimes used in the UK, though his example reads strangely to me; I'd have suggested something like "I've not seen him before"
.
+1'aven't
is common, thoughain't
is used more.
– Orbling
Dec 15 '10 at 17:18
add a comment |
Nobody seems to have mentioned it, but what you'd be more likely to hear in British English is "I 'aven't"
.
As Steve Melnikoff commented, "I've not" is sometimes used in the UK, though his example reads strangely to me; I'd have suggested something like "I've not seen him before"
.
Nobody seems to have mentioned it, but what you'd be more likely to hear in British English is "I 'aven't"
.
As Steve Melnikoff commented, "I've not" is sometimes used in the UK, though his example reads strangely to me; I'd have suggested something like "I've not seen him before"
.
edited Apr 5 at 18:03
Stormblessed
1054
1054
answered Sep 21 '10 at 13:32
BenjolBenjol
3,77022432
3,77022432
+1'aven't
is common, thoughain't
is used more.
– Orbling
Dec 15 '10 at 17:18
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+1'aven't
is common, thoughain't
is used more.
– Orbling
Dec 15 '10 at 17:18
+1
'aven't
is common, though ain't
is used more.– Orbling
Dec 15 '10 at 17:18
+1
'aven't
is common, though ain't
is used more.– Orbling
Dec 15 '10 at 17:18
add a comment |
See also Apostrophes in contractions: shan't, sha'n't or sha'nt?.
I was looking into the example of sha'n't because I just ran across that spelling in Henry James's short story, "The Great Condition" (1900), where characters named Bertram Braddle and Henry Chilver converse as follows:
"A-ah!" Chilver murmered, as if only only now with a full view. "She means she'll speak when you are married."
"When we are. And then only on one great condition."
"How great?"
"Well, that if after six months I still want it very much. She argues, you know, that I sha'n't want it."
"You won't then—you won't!"cried Chilver with a laugh at the odd word and passing his arm into his friend's to make him walk again.
There are several striking things about this occurrence of sha'n't. First, in the many stories that James wrote between 1892 and 1900, the spelling with two apostrophes occurs only this once (I believe). Notably, James doesn't spell won't with two apostrophes one line later—and more to the point, he spelled shan't with one apostrophe earlier in the same story:
"Shan't I go with you to the station?" his companion [Chilver] asked.
And finally, Chilver is particularly struck by "the odd word," though he himself used shan't earlier. This suggests that James is using the double punctuation to indicate an unusual pronunciation of the word sha'n't (perhaps as two syllables: sha-ent?), much as he uses a hyphen to indicate an unusual pronunciation or drawing out of "A-ah!" at the beginning of the quoted dialogue.
In any event, it's clear that writers can and do sometimes use two apostrophes in a single contraction, just as they can and sometimes do compress multiple words into one (as in the case of whadya for "what do you") without using any punctuation to clarify what's going on.
add a comment |
See also Apostrophes in contractions: shan't, sha'n't or sha'nt?.
I was looking into the example of sha'n't because I just ran across that spelling in Henry James's short story, "The Great Condition" (1900), where characters named Bertram Braddle and Henry Chilver converse as follows:
"A-ah!" Chilver murmered, as if only only now with a full view. "She means she'll speak when you are married."
"When we are. And then only on one great condition."
"How great?"
"Well, that if after six months I still want it very much. She argues, you know, that I sha'n't want it."
"You won't then—you won't!"cried Chilver with a laugh at the odd word and passing his arm into his friend's to make him walk again.
There are several striking things about this occurrence of sha'n't. First, in the many stories that James wrote between 1892 and 1900, the spelling with two apostrophes occurs only this once (I believe). Notably, James doesn't spell won't with two apostrophes one line later—and more to the point, he spelled shan't with one apostrophe earlier in the same story:
"Shan't I go with you to the station?" his companion [Chilver] asked.
And finally, Chilver is particularly struck by "the odd word," though he himself used shan't earlier. This suggests that James is using the double punctuation to indicate an unusual pronunciation of the word sha'n't (perhaps as two syllables: sha-ent?), much as he uses a hyphen to indicate an unusual pronunciation or drawing out of "A-ah!" at the beginning of the quoted dialogue.
In any event, it's clear that writers can and do sometimes use two apostrophes in a single contraction, just as they can and sometimes do compress multiple words into one (as in the case of whadya for "what do you") without using any punctuation to clarify what's going on.
add a comment |
See also Apostrophes in contractions: shan't, sha'n't or sha'nt?.
I was looking into the example of sha'n't because I just ran across that spelling in Henry James's short story, "The Great Condition" (1900), where characters named Bertram Braddle and Henry Chilver converse as follows:
"A-ah!" Chilver murmered, as if only only now with a full view. "She means she'll speak when you are married."
"When we are. And then only on one great condition."
"How great?"
"Well, that if after six months I still want it very much. She argues, you know, that I sha'n't want it."
"You won't then—you won't!"cried Chilver with a laugh at the odd word and passing his arm into his friend's to make him walk again.
There are several striking things about this occurrence of sha'n't. First, in the many stories that James wrote between 1892 and 1900, the spelling with two apostrophes occurs only this once (I believe). Notably, James doesn't spell won't with two apostrophes one line later—and more to the point, he spelled shan't with one apostrophe earlier in the same story:
"Shan't I go with you to the station?" his companion [Chilver] asked.
And finally, Chilver is particularly struck by "the odd word," though he himself used shan't earlier. This suggests that James is using the double punctuation to indicate an unusual pronunciation of the word sha'n't (perhaps as two syllables: sha-ent?), much as he uses a hyphen to indicate an unusual pronunciation or drawing out of "A-ah!" at the beginning of the quoted dialogue.
In any event, it's clear that writers can and do sometimes use two apostrophes in a single contraction, just as they can and sometimes do compress multiple words into one (as in the case of whadya for "what do you") without using any punctuation to clarify what's going on.
See also Apostrophes in contractions: shan't, sha'n't or sha'nt?.
I was looking into the example of sha'n't because I just ran across that spelling in Henry James's short story, "The Great Condition" (1900), where characters named Bertram Braddle and Henry Chilver converse as follows:
"A-ah!" Chilver murmered, as if only only now with a full view. "She means she'll speak when you are married."
"When we are. And then only on one great condition."
"How great?"
"Well, that if after six months I still want it very much. She argues, you know, that I sha'n't want it."
"You won't then—you won't!"cried Chilver with a laugh at the odd word and passing his arm into his friend's to make him walk again.
There are several striking things about this occurrence of sha'n't. First, in the many stories that James wrote between 1892 and 1900, the spelling with two apostrophes occurs only this once (I believe). Notably, James doesn't spell won't with two apostrophes one line later—and more to the point, he spelled shan't with one apostrophe earlier in the same story:
"Shan't I go with you to the station?" his companion [Chilver] asked.
And finally, Chilver is particularly struck by "the odd word," though he himself used shan't earlier. This suggests that James is using the double punctuation to indicate an unusual pronunciation of the word sha'n't (perhaps as two syllables: sha-ent?), much as he uses a hyphen to indicate an unusual pronunciation or drawing out of "A-ah!" at the beginning of the quoted dialogue.
In any event, it's clear that writers can and do sometimes use two apostrophes in a single contraction, just as they can and sometimes do compress multiple words into one (as in the case of whadya for "what do you") without using any punctuation to clarify what's going on.
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:38
Community♦
1
1
answered Apr 29 '14 at 20:16
Sven YargsSven Yargs
115k20252508
115k20252508
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Not sure if it counts, but o'clock is a contraction of "of the clock".
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Not sure if it counts, but o'clock is a contraction of "of the clock".
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Not sure if it counts, but o'clock is a contraction of "of the clock".
Not sure if it counts, but o'clock is a contraction of "of the clock".
answered Dec 15 '10 at 16:23
EricEric
1,751911
1,751911
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protected by tchrist♦ Feb 22 '15 at 0:25
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5
Are their grammarians in fo'c'sles?
– Jared Updike
Aug 6 '10 at 4:58
2
It's fo'c's'le, though the apostrophe after the s is sometimes omitted. Forecastle.
– TRiG
Oct 30 '10 at 4:13
2
@Jared Updike: Whose grammarians?
– Piskvor
Oct 30 '10 at 11:45
4
@Piskvor: ha ha... apparently not me! It was meant to be a pun on 'Are there atheists in foxholes?'
– Jared Updike
Oct 30 '10 at 19:38
The answers seem low quality... I'm new here, please tell me: do the answer always defer to my high school English teacher?
– Joe Coder
Aug 7 '16 at 6:23