Contractions are used in everyday language to shorten phrases and make them easier to say or write. However, not all contractions are created equal. Some contractions are considered « real » while others are not.
Real contractions are formed by the fusion of two words, where one or more letters from each word are removed and replaced with an apostrophe. These contractions should be counted as one word for SEO purposes. But how can you tell if a contraction is real or not? Here are some tips to help you identify real contractions and count them accurately.
1. Understand the difference between contractions and abbreviations. Abbreviations are shortened forms of words or phrases, but they do not involve the fusion of two words. For example, « Ms. » and « Dr. » are abbreviations, not contractions. They should be counted as one word for SEO purposes.
2. Look for the presence of auxiliary verbs. Real contractions are formed by combining a subject pronoun (I, you, he, she, it, we, they) with an auxiliary verb (am, is, are, have, has, had, can, could, will, would, should) or a modal verb (may, might, must, shall, should). The contraction is formed by removing the « o » or « a » from the auxiliary verb and replacing it with an apostrophe. For example, « I am » becomes « I`m », « he will » becomes « he`ll », and « they would » becomes « they`d ». These contractions should be counted as one word for SEO purposes.
3. Pay attention to the pronunciation. Real contractions sound like one word when spoken. If you read a contraction and it sounds like two separate words, it is not a real contraction. For example, « I will » should not be contracted to « I`will » because it sounds like two separate words. The same goes for « you will » contracted to « you`will ».
4. Double-check your spelling. Real contractions are spelled with an apostrophe to indicate missing letters. If you see a contraction that is spelled with a hyphen, it is not a real contraction. For example, « rockin`-and-rollin` » is not a real contraction because it is spelled with a hyphen.
By following these tips, you can accurately count real contractions in your writing for SEO purposes. Remember that real contractions are formed by the fusion of two words and should be counted as one word. Use these guidelines to ensure your writing is optimized for SEO and easily readable for your audience.