Contractions Edit

Highlight: In most cases, using contractions is completely acceptable, but be watchful of some exceptions.

A contraction is a shortened form of a word, syllable, or a combination of words that is often used instead of the full form in spoken English. Generally, the letters omitted by contractions are indicated with an apostrophe ( ). Contractions are commonly used in colloquial and informal settings.

As WordPress documentation makes use of a colloquial tone, you can utilize contractions in your content. Although, be watchful of some exceptions.

Examples

  • I’m – I am.
  • they’ve – they have.
  • don’t – do not.

Common contractions

  • Use common contractions such as they’ve, that’s, you’re, it’s, in your documentation.
  • Be wary of common mistakes such as confusing you’re with your, and it’s with its.
  • Use negation contractions such as don’t, can’t, shouldn’t, and isn’t.
  • Avoid awkward and unconventional contractions such as where’re, mightn’t, mayn’t, ’twas’, and slang contractions like gotta, imma, wanna.

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Noun and verb contractions

Don’t use contractions formed with nouns and verbs. Contractions formed with nouns and verbs are generally complex and uncommon words.

Examples

Not recommended: GutenbergGutenberg The Gutenberg project is the new Editor Interface for WordPress. The editor improves the process and experience of creating new content, making writing rich content much simpler. It uses ‘blocks’ to add richness rather than shortcodes, custom HTML etc. https://wordpress.org/gutenberg/’s using a new, refreshed UIUI UI is an acronym for User Interface - the layout of the page the user interacts with. Think ‘how are they doing that’ and less about what they are doing..

Recommended: GutenbergGutenberg The Gutenberg project is the new Editor Interface for WordPress. The editor improves the process and experience of creating new content, making writing rich content much simpler. It uses ‘blocks’ to add richness rather than shortcodes, custom HTML etc. https://wordpress.org/gutenberg/ is using a new, refreshed UIUI UI is an acronym for User Interface - the layout of the page the user interacts with. Think ‘how are they doing that’ and less about what they are doing..

Not recommended: These formats’ve proven to be highly beneficial.

Recommended: These formats have proven to be highly beneficial.

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Double contractions

Avoid using double contractions. Double contractions contain two contractions as opposed to one.

Examples

  • wouldn’t’ve – would not have.
  • you’d’ve – you would have.
  • sha’n’t – shall not (shall + n’t).
  • mightn’t’ve – might not have.
  • ’tisn’t – it is not.

Double contractions, including slang and archaic, are difficult to understand. Avoid using these in documentation.

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Additional Resources

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