There are 23 single-letter whole-word contractions that correspond to the letters of the alphabet (excluding the letters "a", "i", and "o"):
b |
but |
p |
people |
c |
can |
q |
quite |
d |
do |
r |
rather |
e |
every |
s |
so |
f |
from |
t |
that |
g |
go |
u |
us |
h |
have |
v |
very |
j |
just |
w |
will |
k |
knowledge |
x |
it |
l |
like |
y |
you |
m |
more |
z |
as |
n |
not |
These contractions are used to represent whole-words as written. Notice that these are basically initial-letter contractions, with the exception of "x" for "it" and "z" for as.
The biggest rule concerning these contractions is that they may not be combined with the letter "s" to form plurals. For example, the word "peoples", if the contraction were used, would be "ps", which might be confused for the abbreviation for "post script". These whole words can, however, be used with the apostrophe in specific combinations:
c's | can's | x'd | it'd |
c't | can't | x'll | it'll |
p's | people's | x's | it's |
s's | so's | y'd | you'd |
t'd | that'd | y'll | you'll |
t'll | that'll | y're | you're |
t's | that's | y've | you've |
w's | will's | | |
These contractions can be used to represent proper names, such as "Robert More". You can also add an apostrophe s when these contractions are used as proper names, as in "Robert More's house".
These contractions will never be used as part-word contractions. The only place they might appear as if they are serving as part word is in hyphenated words, such as "(so)-(and)-(so)".
Back to Single whole-word Contractions
On to the Whole-word one-cell contractions
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