Accessibility

Contractions

Overview

Note: In this version of the style guide, we’ve changed our approach to contractions. So some of our older content does not reflect what we say in this section.

Using contractions sets a more conversational and less formal tone.

But we must always think about the needs of our readers. For that reason, we have guidelines for using them.

The Contractions section of Content Design London’s – Readability Guidelines has more detailed instructions. We based our approach on their recommendations.

If you do not see a contraction listed in this section, it’s likely one that’s less common and more complex. So it’s best to avoid using it.

Use simple positive contractions

Use simple positive contractions, such as:

  • I’m
  • it’s
  • I’ll
  • there’s
  • they’re
  • we’ll
  • we’re
  • what’s
  • where’s
  • who’s
  • you’re
  • you’ll

Avoid complex and conditional contractions

Avoid complex and conditional contractions. People with cognitive challenges or lower literacy levels find it hard to recognize and understand contractions that:

  • are used less often, and
  • convey a complex tense.

Avoid complex and conditional contractions, such as:

  • could’ve
  • I’ve
  • should’ve
  • there’ll
  • they’ll
  • they’ve
  • would’ve
  • you’ve

Avoid negative contractions

Research shows that many readers:

  • find negative contractions difficult to read
  • misread them as the opposite of what they say

Even people with higher literacy levels can misread negative contractions. This can happen when they are rushed, stressed, or multi-tasking.  

Avoid negative contractions, such as:

  • aren’t
  • can’t
  • didn’t
  • doesn’t
  • don’t
  • hasn’t
  • isn’t
  • shouldn’t
  • weren’t
  • wouldn’t

It’s most important to avoid negative contractions in our public legal information content, for example, in our printed booklets and on Steps to Justice.

In other writing, you can choose to use them if you’re confident that your readers will not find them challenging. But remember, readers at all levels can misread them.

Using contractions is becoming more accepted in many types of writing. For example, Joe Kimble advocates using them in legal writing. See The case for contractions in Judicature, Vol. 6, No. 3 (2023).

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