Notes on Contractions

Whenever I teach about contractions, it's nice to go over some examples of how the spacing and punctuation of these words have changed over time. Of course, in the moment, I can't remember where I've seen the older words. So now I'm making a list.

It is really fun to let children write these on paper and actually get a pair of scissors and cut the letters. The apostrophe shows where the scissors cut!

Uncle Wiggily's Story Book
by Howard R. Garis

Hallowe'en
chapter 20, "Uncle Wiggily's Hallowe'en"

A Child's History of the World
by V.M. Hillyer

did n't
chapter 3, "Fire! Fire!! Fire!!!"

is n't
chapter 6, "The Puzzle-Writers"

he 'd
chapter 11, "A Fairy-Tale War"

was n't
chapter 12, "The Kings of the Jews"

what 's
chapter 12, "The Kings of the Jews"

does n't
chapter 16, "A Bad Beginning"

let 's
chapter 18, "A City of Wonders and Wickedness"

I 'm
chapter 19, "A Surprise Party"

that 's
chapter 21, "Rich Man, Poor Man"

could n't
chapter 23, "Greece vs. Persia"

has n't
chapter 24, "Fighting Mad"

had n't
chapter 26, "The Golden Age"

were n't
chapter 31, "The Boot Kicks and Stamps"

would n't
chapter 66, "James the Servant"

these old spacings have been "fixed" in the Project Gutenberg version

note: this book also contains the old spelling of Hallowe'en

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