I've been told I should use more contractions in my writing - something my formal, old fashioned schooling seems to rebel against.
Is 'd'you' as in 'do you' acceptable ? even grammatically correct?
I've seen it in published books, I suppose it's okay in dialogue - but it grates on me I seem to have a lot of do you's in my novel and I'm thinking should I change them ?
Help! Any thoughts on the subject gratefully received ?
That's a great idea, Carla - read it out loud and trust my judgement !
After all imagine Martin Luther King saying, 'I've a dream...' it sounds terrible !
So good to read your question! Contractions go against my schooling too and it's something I've been struggling with. Harry Bingham in How to Write talks about it and about how to weave accents into a storyline.
I've been researching a variety of well written books and notice they have a combination of both - contractions and longhand. Sometimes it reads better to write - I had or I have and others I'd or I've suits. I adjust it when I read each chapter out loud.
Expressions such as d'you would be best kept for dialogue.
I'm not an expert and certainly not a grammar guru. It will be interesting to read what others will say.