Contractions
Stay organized with collections
Save and categorize content based on your preferences.
In general, we write our documentation in an informal tone, so we
recommend using common two-word contractions such as you're, don't, and
there's.
Negation contractions
In particular, we recommend using negation contractions such as isn't, don't, and
can't. It's easy for a reader to miss the word not when they're scanning, whereas
it's harder to misread don't as do.
If you need to emphasize the negative, you can use text formatting such as is
<em>not</em>, which renders as "is not." But in most cases, you don't
need emphasis to make your point clear.
Contractions to avoid
Don't make up nonstandard contractions such as guides're or browser's (where
's means is).
Don't use three-word contractions such as mightn't've.
Except as otherwise noted, the content of this page is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License, and code samples are licensed under the Apache 2.0 License. For details, see the Google Developers Site Policies. Java is a registered trademark of Oracle and/or its affiliates.
Last updated 2025-02-21 UTC.
[null,null,["Last updated 2025-02-21 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003eDocumentation generally follows an informal tone, encouraging the use of most contractions, especially negation contractions like \u003cem\u003edon't\u003c/em\u003e for clarity.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eNoun + verb contractions, such as \u003cem\u003ebrowser's\u003c/em\u003e, should be avoided as they can cause confusion with possessive forms, except in rare, clear cases.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eDouble contractions (e.g., \u003cem\u003emightn't've\u003c/em\u003e) should be completely avoided for better readability.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eRemember the distinction between \u003cem\u003eits\u003c/em\u003e (possessive) and \u003cem\u003eit's\u003c/em\u003e (contraction of "it is").\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],["The documentation recommends using common two-word contractions like \"you're\" and \"don't,\" especially negation contractions such as \"isn't\" and \"can't\" to improve readability. While emphasizing the negative with formatting like \"is *not*\" is acceptable, it's usually unnecessary. Avoid creating nonstandard contractions, like \"guides're,\" or using three-word contractions like \"mightn't've.\" The focus should be on clarity using established, informal contractions.\n"],null,["# Contractions\n\nIn general, we write our documentation in an [informal tone](/style/tone), so we\nrecommend using common two-word contractions such as *you're* , *don't* , and\n*there's*.\n\nNegation contractions\n---------------------\n\nIn particular, we recommend using negation contractions such as *isn't* , *don't* , and\n*can't* . It's easy for a reader to miss the word *not* when they're scanning, whereas\nit's harder to misread *don't* as *do*.\n\nIf you need to emphasize the negative, you can use text formatting such as `is\n\u003cem\u003enot\u003c/em\u003e`, which renders as \"is *not*.\" But in most cases, you don't\nneed emphasis to make your point clear.\n\nContractions to avoid\n---------------------\n\nDon't make up nonstandard contractions such as *guides're* or *browser's* (where\n*'s* means *is*).\n\nDon't use three-word contractions such as *mightn't've*."]]
