The Acceptability of Contractions in Nonfiction Writing

Discover when and how to use contractions in your nonfiction writing, ensuring clarity and professional tone.

Introduction to Contractions

Contractions in English are shortened forms of words that combine two words into one, often leaving out an apostrophe for omitted letters. Words like “is,” “am,” and “was” can be contracted into “’s,” “’m,” and “’d,” respectively. While contractions are common in spoken language, their use in nonfiction writing often raises questions about formality and correctness.

Formal vs. Informal Writing: A Delicate Balance

Contractions are generally discouraged in formal writing, including nonfiction. For example, using contractions in a professional engineering paper or academic article is not advisable. The reason for this is simple: formal writing style aims to maintain a level of clarity and professionalism that sometimes requires the direct use of full, unabbreviated words. However, in contexts where the writing style is more relaxed, contractions can be perfectly acceptable.

Context Matters: When and How to Use Contractions

The acceptability of contractions depends on the context in which they are used. In informal writing, such as blog posts, letters, or casual emails, the use of contractions can make the text more conversational and relatable. For instance:

Informal: “I’m so happy to inform you that the meeting will be rescheduled for tomorrow.”

In contrast, the same sentence in a formal document might be:

Formal: “I am so happy to inform you that the meeting will be rescheduled for tomorrow.”

Across the board, it's important to ensure that the intent and clarity of your statement are not compromised by the use of contractions. For example:

Text 1 (Formal): “I am going home because I promised and will keep my word.”

Text 2 (Informal): “I’m going home because I promised and will keep my word.”

The second text conveys the same message but does so in a more conversational tone, which might be more appropriate in certain contexts.

Special Cases in Nonfiction Writing

There are a few specific situations where contractions might even enhance the tone of your writing:

Quotations and Direct Speech: In direct speech, contractions can sound more natural and authentic. For example, if you're writing a nonfiction piece about personal experience:

“Luke, I am your father,” sounded more impressive than “Luke, I’m your father.”

QA Format: When answering questions, contractions are generally accepted, especially if the rest of the text is casual. For example:

Question: “Are you going home?”

Answer (Acceptable): “No, I’m not.”

However, to maintain a formal tone:

Answer (Formal): “No, I am not.”

Technical Writing: In certain technical fields, especially those involving regulations or standards, the use of contractions is generally discouraged. For example, a Professional Engineer might be told that “I am your father” is the correct phrasing in a technical paper, while “I’m your father” is not.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

To summarize, the acceptability of contractions in nonfiction writing depends heavily on the intended audience and the overall tone of the text. In formal settings, it's generally best to use full forms for clarity and consistency. However, conversational pieces and informal genres can benefit from the use of contractions to enhance readability and relatability.

Remember, the key is to maintain clarity and professionalism while maintaining a natural and engaging tone. Whether using “I am” or “I’m,” the message should be clear and the style must suit the purpose of the writing.