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My apostrophe/quotation mark key on my laptop keyboard broke last month. So for the entire month, I have been realizing how often I use the apostrophe in day-to-day written communication. All the shortcuts and contractions, all the possessive words and quotations have had to be rethought or redone.

What do you think? Are apostrophes and contractions overused? Is our writing becoming lazier? Can you live a month without a working apostrophe key on your keyboard?

Interesting thought. I think that this goes along with social media and cell phone usage. All of our words and communications are getting shorter and shorter. We abbreviate words, and we use contractions. What will our language look like many years from now?

I wouldn't say that they're overused, but they have become quite necessary. Native speakers use contractions all the time, so they are essential for writing dialogue. They're also handy for informal types of written communication, such as social media posts or texts. And yes, I am fully aware that I used three contractions in this paragraph!

Also, I am sorry to hear about your computer. It must be very frustrating.

Prob'ly

kandscreeley wrote:Interesting thought. I think that this goes along with social media and cell phone usage. All of our words and communications are getting shorter and shorter. We abbreviate words, and we use contractions. What will our language look like many years from now?

I love how this post has no apostrophes in it. It is something to think about though. What will our language look like in the next century?

I guess that's just how our language has evolved. As long has people who use contractions understand what they actually mean then I see no problem with it. I don't necessarily think they are overused, considering it is only appropriate to use them in informal conversations.

True that. I do like how it made me be more conscious about my use of language. Having to rewrite or rethink my words often made me rethink my whole message. Rather then race off a quick message and click send, I now have to stop and think: Is that word really necessary? Is that what I really mean? Is that the best way to write this sentence?

DATo wrote:Prob'ly

HA! Honestly, I don't think we're using them too terribly much considering writing in the Elizabethan era was riddled with them, just in a different place usually. They preferred cutting off specific letters versus how we shove two whole words together.

liniageline89 wrote:True that. I do like how it made me be more conscious about my use of language. Having to rewrite or rethink my words often made me rethink my whole message. Rather then race off a quick message and click send, I now have to stop and think: Is that word really necessary? Is that what I really mean? Is that the best way to write this sentence?

I agree, it does make you stop and think about what you're writing before you hit send, which is a good thing.

Yeah, I think so too

Ha ha.. my keys are working fine. We don't use it often

I am (honestly) not an apostrophe pedant. But I have my limits. Recently a launderette has opened right opposite my place of work, meaning I have to see it every day, called (sic) WA'SH UM AND DRY. If I could think of something witty to intersperse between the A and the S I would be tempted to an act of vandalism.