A question for the linguists out there.....

[AprilShowers]

DD is working on her science fair report, and received her corrected rough draft back from teacher yesterday.
In every spot that she used a contraction, it was corrected. For example, Don't was corrected to do not in every single instance.
Can't was corrected to can not.

Is it improper to use contractions in term papers and reports? She's a 7th grader.
I'm NOT complaining, just wondering.
My thinking is that it sounds too formal for a 7th grader when you use do not and can not. They are supposed to be putting it into their own words.

What do you guys think?

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

I had a teacher say we weren't allowed to use contractions in our papers. After that, I never used them when writing (in school).

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I was always taught that you NEVER use contractions in a paper. She should know that by 7th grade, IMO.

 

[AprilShowers]

Thanks guys! I'd seriously never heard that one. I thought I was pretty good at this paper writing stuff. Guess you learn something new every day.
Of course DD plays dumb with all this stuff........
I get the whole "she never told us that" thing

 

[WDW Fun]

DD is working on her science fair report, and received her corrected rough draft back from teacher yesterday.
In every spot that she used a contraction, it was corrected. For example, Don't was corrected to do not in every single instance.
Can't was corrected to can not.

Is it improper to use contractions in term papers and reports? She's a 7th grader.
I'm NOT complaining, just wondering.
My thinking is that it sounds too formal for a 7th grader when you use do not and can not. They are supposed to be putting it into their own words.

What do you guys think?

I don't remember my kids being unable to use contractions, but maybe that's the case. Sometimes it seems that each teacher is a little different in what they are picky about. I do remember one teacher using a comma everywhere it was humanly possible, but that's a different story.

When your DD does the corrections, be sure she uses the correct word: "cannot", not "can not".

 

[AprilShowers]

When your DD does the corrections, be sure she uses the correct word: "cannot", not "can not".

It's funny you mention that cause she was corrected to can not. Should she do it "right" or what the teacher said?

 

[Serena]

I never knew that. Is this something new? Like after 1982?

 

[bananiem]

I learned it in junior high in the late '70's.

 

[Serena]

Maybe that's something else I've forgotten.

 

[WDW Fun]

It's funny you mention that cause she was corrected to can not. Should she do it "right" or what the teacher said?

Look here: http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutspelling/cannot

I guess it's optional. Depends on how it's used.

ETA: http://wsu.edu/~brians/errors/cannot.html

 

[shirleyb]

I know I learned in Jr High when writing formally, which a paper would be, you do not use contractions. They'd be fine for personal correspondence, but not, for instance, a paper for school or work, or something even like a cover letter.

 

[mickeyboat]

I also learned the "no contractions in formal writing rule."

And, if the teacher said to write can not instead of cannot, I would write can not.

Denae

 

[MushyMushy]

Absolutely no contractions in formal term papers or essays.

By the time I got to college, it was ingrained in me not to use them, but in college it was acceptable.

 

[deekaypee]

The earlier your DD learns to write without using contractions for formal papers, the better it will be for her in educational situations. I can't tell you the number of college students I have who use contractions--arrrrgh!

As for the cannot or can not rule, I generally use cannot but can not is an acceptable substitute. The most useful suggestion I can make, however, is to have your DD ask the teacher for an explanation for the usage. That way, she can hear the teacher's reasoning and will hopefully learn something interesting about language.

 

[pogo791]

The rule is clear: no contractions in formal writing. "Can't" is used only in informal connections, and of course when speaking.

However, I can say after some thirty-plus years in academia and government work, contractions can be used for effect. It depends so much on your intended audience and on your style. My field is law, criminal justice and government, and there are certain connections when your readers can accept (and indeed appreciate) more informal and laid-back writing.

Even so, those remain rare exceptions. It's (whoops, a contraction!) safest to avoid contractions when still in school, and when starting out ...

 

[va32h]

I have never heard of this rule; however, I would go ahead and write the paper in whatever manner the teacher prefers. In college, most of my professors like the MLA Handbook guidelines for papers, but I had some that preferred Chicago Style Manual. It was annoying for me to switch back and forth, but it's part of the game.

 

[smartestnumber5]

The rule is clear: no contractions in formal writing. "Can't" is used only in informal connections, and of course when speaking.

However, I can say after some thirty-plus years in academia and government work, contractions can be used for effect. It depends so much on your intended audience and on your style. My field is law, criminal justice and government, and there are certain connections when your readers can accept (and indeed appreciate) more informal and laid-back writing.

I agree. I was taught the rule in middle school probably and followed it diligently probably until the end of college. Since I've been in graduate school I don't bother any more. Most of the new papers in my field that are published are full of contractions and now I don't even notice anymore when I read or write.

The whole thing really makes you and . They drill all of these rules into you into you in middle school and high school and then if you make it far enough in academia they take it all back. Makes no sense!

 

[MushyMushy]

The whole thing really makes you and . They drill all of these rules into you into you in middle school and high school and then if you make it far enough in academia they take it all back. Makes no sense!

One of my teachers told us that you have to know and be able to use all the rules before you can break them to good effect.

Just look at Frank McCourt's writing. A grammarian would have a field day with that writing, but I doubt any old high school graduate could pull it off.

 

[Christopher Robin]

I can't keep up with all these grammer rules, but then again, I wasn't ever a very cunning linguist.

 

[Christopher Robin]

Hey, someone had to say it.