Writing question

[serafina20]

I read somewhere (and I don't remember where), that you shouldn't use contractions in prose when you're not writing dialogue. Does anyone know if this is true or not?

Comments

[serafina20.livejournal.com]

Okay, thanks. :)

[bauglir.livejournal.com]

In formal English you should not use contractions in prose; however, a novel and other creative works do not need to adhere to this principle since they are reative and not necessarily formal, etc.

The rule mainly applies to non-fiction prose.

[serafina20.livejournal.com]

All right, thanks. I wasn't sure what was goign to be best.

[lunacelestia.livejournal.com]

I've heard that, too, and I've always kind of hated it. In fiction, if you're inside a character's head, even from a 3rd person perspective, I think it sounds stilted and wrong to not contract words if the character would.

I, personally, think it depends on the POV, the tone you're going for, etc.

[serafina20.livejournal.com]

I think I first read that on fanficrants and really disagreed with it. I was just worried because I want to do what's most likely to get my novel published.