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Actually I have this question for long time. As I started to use contracted words like I've , it's, you're (verb with subject), and due to habit of shorting verb+not like haven't, isn't etc, eventually I came to write words that are contracted twice e.g I'ven't, it'sn't, you'ren't etc.

But I suspect about correctness of it since that I've never found such twice contraction in a sentence. So, finally I has come to ask: Is it ok to contract and combine more than one words simultaneously?

I mean combining effects of I've + not & I + haven't to I'ven't! and similar possible word contractions.

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  • Set the way-back machine to question number 50 on ELU: english.stackexchange.com/questions/50/…
    – Davo
    Commented May 30, 2017 at 18:05
  • Generally, it's best not to make any more contractions. There are a certain number of accepted contractions in English, and that group nearly never grows outside of local dialects.
    – Stephen S
    Commented May 30, 2017 at 18:18
  • No, no and no. There are no double contractions. They are two choices sometimes, however: He isn't rich or He's not rich. Your examples are not correct. I've not seen him today (usually British); I haven't see him today (usually American). Just two examples.
    – Lambie
    Commented May 30, 2017 at 19:30

2 Answers 2

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Contraction of VERB+not (isn't, haven't, &c) occurs only when the verb is stressed; but contraction of NOUN+VERB or PRONOUN+VERB (Jack's, she'd, I've, &c) occurs only when the verb is unstressed.

A verb can't be stressed and unstressed at the same time; so these “double” contractions are not valid English.

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    You've not pointed out that idiomatically, most people today would normally contract that one as You haven't [pointed it out].
    – FumbleFingers
    Commented May 30, 2017 at 17:54
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    @FumbleFingers I was trying to avoid opening that can of worms.
    – StoneyB on hiatus
    Commented May 30, 2017 at 17:56
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    I hadn't seen this earlier question when I posted that comment, but it might be worth you including a link to it. Though as implied above, I personally don't endorse the accepted answer there, which starts with They are equal. Neither is preferable.
    – FumbleFingers
    Commented May 30, 2017 at 18:04
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    @FumbleFingers And the accepted answer proposes I'ven't. rrr...
    – StoneyB on hiatus
    Commented May 30, 2017 at 18:14
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No. There are specific words like 'not' or verbs 'is and 'have' come to mind, that contracted with a pronoun are fine in English usage. Your use of I'ven't isnt a word and isnt easily even interpreted meaningfully. It looks like 'I vent', with entirely different meaning.

Your combination of I have not must be I haven't. Anything other than that would not be standard English usage. Hope that helps you.

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  • "Isnt" isn't a correct form.
    – Mohd Zulkanien Sarbini
    Commented May 30, 2017 at 18:02
  • What is your point, oh anonymous grammar god?
    – Amanda_M
    Commented May 31, 2017 at 18:06

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