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con·trac·tion

contraction

 
pronunciation:
kn traek shn
part of speech: noun
inflections: contractions
definition: When we say things like "don't" or "I'm" or "can't," we are using what we call contractions. Contractions let us put two words together so we can say or write them in a shorter way. "Don't" is a contraction of the two words "do" and "not." "I'm" is a contraction of the words "I" and "am." The little mark between the two words in a contraction is called an apostrophe. That mark tell us that something is missing. For example, in the contraction "I'm," the letter "a" of the word "am" is missing.
Contractions are used a lot in speaking. When contractions are used in writing, it makes it sound like someone is speaking.