How long do you think you can go without using a contraction...verbal or written?

I do not use as many contractions when I am writing as I do when I am speaking.

I have never been pregnant, so no contractions.

I don’t want to try. 

  Meh, a few seconds at the most. I would not even attempt to avoid them, and there a are at least a couple of reasons for that. First of all, the practice of avoiding their use is more time-consuming and more nerve-wracking than using them, because it requires altering my natural way of speaking and writing so much that it is not even worth it. Next, there are certain times that contractions are simply more efficient and simplistic in getting a point across. Lastly, it is the proverbial slippery slope: today they want to take away our contractions, so what will be next?  It is the tilde, is it not?  For shame, I say, for shame!  Grrrrrrrrrr. 


~ This post was edited by Randy D at April 28, 2020 6:17 AM MDT

I could go on as long as you would like,
but I am sure you would soon get sick of it.

  I don’t really think it’s something that I can’t do or couldn’t do, it’d probably be something that I wouldn’t do. I’m not sure if you’re saying that people shouldn’t use them, because you would’ve specifically stated so in what you wrote. You’ve stated it the way you meant it, so there’d be no point in me trying to rearrange your question to fit my answer. How’s that fair to you? Not very much, I’d venture to say. One doesn’t just go and do things like that, it might make you ask me, “Randall, ol’ pal o’ mine, why’d you go and do that?”  They’re better ways to handle things, I know that. So, in conclusion, I’ll sum it up. It isn’t necessarily a bad thing to use contractions either when writing or speaking, there‘ve been some people who say it’s improper when writing a formal paper. I’m not wearing a tuxedo right now, so what’s good enough is just good enough. 

  Peace, I’m Audi 5000. 

~