Thread: Are contractions hard for readers if English isn't their first language?
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Old 01-03-2011, 10:05 PM   #1
John Carroll
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Are contractions hard for readers if English isn't their first language?
I have a few European friends who have told me that it's hard for them to read all of the different contractions used in American writing, such as "Would've" and "They'd".

As I edit my works, I find it interesting that I tend to write very formal. I almost always type out "do not" instead of "don't". I don't know why I do this, but can't seem to break the habit. It's fine as I clean it up in the edits. One of my proofreaders remarked upon it in the first book.

I just wonder if making contractions is hard for readers who read English as a second language. If so, are there any inparticular that make it difficult?
Last edited by John Carroll; 01-03-2011 at 10:06 PM. Reason: missing word
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