As a copy editor, you know that contractions play an important role in making your writing sound more natural and conversational. However, you also know that not all contractions are created equal when it comes to SEO. In this article, we`ll take a closer look at the most common contractions and how to use them effectively in your writing.
Contractions are formed by combining two words into one by dropping one or more letters and adding an apostrophe. They`re commonly used in spoken language and informal writing, but they can also be used in more formal writing as long as they`re used appropriately.
Here`s a list of some of the most commonly used contractions:
1. I`m (I am)
2. You`re (you are)
3. He`s (he is)
4. She`s (she is)
5. It`s (it is)
6. We`re (we are)
7. They`re (they are)
8. Can`t (cannot)
9. Don`t (do not)
10. Won`t (will not)
11. Shouldn`t (should not)
12. Couldn`t (could not)
13. Wouldn`t (would not)
14. Hadn`t (had not)
15. Hasn`t (has not)
16. Haven`t (have not)
17. I`ve (I have)
18. You`ve (you have)
19. We`ve (we have)
20. They`ve (they have)
Using contractions effectively in your writing can help to make it more engaging and easier to read. However, it`s important to keep in mind that some contractions should be avoided in certain situations.
For example, contractions like “won`t” or “shouldn`t” can give your writing a more conversational tone, but they may not be appropriate in more formal situations like academic writing or business documents.
In addition, contractions should be used sparingly in headlines, titles, and meta descriptions, as these are areas where search engines like Google pay close attention to the language used.
In summary, contractions are a great way to make your writing sound more natural and conversational, but it`s important to use them appropriately and in moderation. By keeping this common contractions list handy, you`ll be able to use these language shortcuts effectively in your writing, while keeping SEO in mind.