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Bechtel, John Hendricks, 1841-

"Slips of Speech : a Helpful Book for Everyone Who Aspires to Correct the Everyday Errors of Speaking"


Shouldn't and Wouldn't
These are frequently used in speech, but are not so common in writing.
Mustn't, Mayn't, Mightn't, and Oughtn't
Mustn't may be used in light conversation, but not in writing. The
others should be avoided in speech and writing.
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I'm, You're, He's, She's, It's, We're, They're
The contractions formed by compounding the pronoun with the verb are
very common, and tend to preserve conversation from becoming stiff and
formal. Nouns in the singular are sometimes compounded in like manner;
as, "John's going by the early train," "Mary's caught a bird." Not
many verbs beside is and has are thus compounded, and the practice
should be discouraged.
Mayst, Mightst
Although mayst, canst, mightst, couldst, wouldst, and shouldst are
contracted forms, the apostrophe is not employed to indicate the
contraction.
Daren't, Dursent
Dare not is sometimes contracted to daren't and durst not to dursent,
but the practice should not be encouraged.
Let's
While verbs are often contracted when compounded with pronouns, as
it's, he's, I'm, you're, etc.


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