# Wouldn't've (double contraction)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 7, 1999, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wouldntve-double-contraction/5210 "1999-12-07T05:09:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 1999, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wouldntve-double-contraction/5210/1 "1999-12-07T05:09:00Z")
In another post another poster used the word _Wouldn’t’ve_. It is a double contraction. I think that is kind of cool. But other than _couldn’t’ve_ I can’t think of another. Anyone got some _legitimate_ ones?? Made up ones that make no sense don’t count. ---
**Author:** ![JamesCarroll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@JamesCarroll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JamesCarroll)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 1999, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wouldntve-double-contraction/5210/2 "1999-12-07T05:22:00Z")
I would think “shouldn’t’ve” qualifies. As for being legitimate, when I asked this question awhile ago, the verdict seemed to still be out. ---
**Author:** ![putrid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e5b9ba/32.png) [@putrid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/putrid)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 1999, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wouldntve-double-contraction/5210/3 "1999-12-07T05:28:00Z")
There are tons of 'em. They just are not used very often. Shouldn’t’ve, to continue your string. He’ll’ve. No, I’ve never _seen_ it but I speak it. She’d’ve. Likewise. Hmm, there are several which specifically do appear in print occasionally, as opposed to these which only _sound_ ok. I’ll have to come back after some reflection. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecccb3/32.png) [@Lord\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 1999, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wouldntve-double-contraction/5210/4 "1999-12-07T05:28:00Z")
I use _y’all’s_ a lot. Does that count? ---
**Author:** ![putrid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e5b9ba/32.png) [@putrid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/putrid)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 1999, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wouldntve-double-contraction/5210/5 "1999-12-07T05:32:00Z")
They’d’ve looks legit to me, while he’d’ve doesn’t. I guess it’s the length of the pronoun. ---
**Author:** ![Spiritus\_Mundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Spiritus\_Mundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiritus_Mundi)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 1999, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wouldntve-double-contraction/5210/6 "1999-12-07T05:34:00Z")
Depends. Is it a posessive, as in: _Is that y’all’s still?_ Or is it a contraction for you all is, as in: _You mean y’all’s siblings and married to each other?_ * * * - The best lack all conviction The worst are full of passionate intensity. \* ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecccb3/32.png) [@Lord\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 1999, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wouldntve-double-contraction/5210/7 "1999-12-07T05:36:00Z")
Well, I meant posessive, but it seems to work both ways, huh? ---
**Author:** ![whc.03grady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@whc.03grady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whc.03grady)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 1999, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wouldntve-double-contraction/5210/8 "1999-12-07T16:48:00Z")
I’d’ve posted earlier but I had to run out and buy some apostrophes. * * * I could never sleep my way to the top/'cause my alarm clock always wakes me right up. ---
**Author:** ![Spiritus\_Mundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Spiritus\_Mundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiritus_Mundi)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 1999, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wouldntve-double-contraction/5210/9 "1999-12-07T19:50:00Z")
Um, no JimB. A posessive is not a contraction. Not even it it’s y’all’s. * * * - The best lack all conviction The worst are full of passionate intensity. \* ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecccb3/32.png) [@Lord\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 1999, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wouldntve-double-contraction/5210/10 "1999-12-07T20:00:00Z")
You mean posessive contractions don’t count. It did use up some apostophies, though. ---
**Author:** ![Boris\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Boris\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boris_B)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 1999, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wouldntve-double-contraction/5210/11 "1999-12-07T20:03:00Z")
I’dn’t’ve is my favourite contraction, since it’s got four constituent parts. I doubt it’s a legit word, though. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecccb3/32.png) [@Lord\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 1999, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wouldntve-double-contraction/5210/12 "1999-12-07T20:03:00Z")
And I’d’ve thought it’d’ve. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecccb3/32.png) [@Lord\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 1999, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wouldntve-double-contraction/5210/13 "1999-12-07T20:09:00Z")
But, I guess it’dn’t’ve, huh? ---
**Author:** ![putrid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e5b9ba/32.png) [@putrid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/putrid)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 1999, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wouldntve-double-contraction/5210/14 "1999-12-07T20:29:00Z")
I’m sure I’ve never seen Boris’ I’dn’t’ve in print but, the more I turn it over in my mind, the more I think it is used in everyday speech. ---
**Author:** ![Jois](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea666f/32.png) [@Jois](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jois)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 1999, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wouldntve-double-contraction/5210/15 "1999-12-07T21:13:00Z")
Uness you have an accent or something (What good would it do a Southerner, for example, when it’s going to take them three days to say it anyway…or Garrison Keiller for that matter?) I think we all use double contractions when speak. Maybe you wouldn’t want to if you were getting pulled over by the cops for a possible DWI or some other sticky situation were your best speach might save your butt. ---
**Author:** ![Jois](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea666f/32.png) [@Jois](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jois)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 1999, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wouldntve-double-contraction/5210/16 "1999-12-07T21:14:00Z")
where ---
**Author:** ![NickyLarson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b2d939/32.png) [@NickyLarson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NickyLarson)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 1999, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wouldntve-double-contraction/5210/17 "1999-12-08T01:40:00Z")
If you want to see a lot of double contractions used in print, read ‘The Catcher In The Rye’. Houlden Caulfield used them throughout the book. That was where I first came upon them, although I’d’ve thought I was using them for years. ---
**Author:** ![\_Df](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/7ba0ec/32.png) [@\_Df](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Df)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 1999, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wouldntve-double-contraction/5210/18 "1999-12-08T20:45:00Z")
Speakin’ of written versions of spoken contractions, I’da thought ya wouldn’ wanna skip the ones where the 'postrophes get left out, but I dunno. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 1999, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wouldntve-double-contraction/5210/19 "1999-12-09T05:37:00Z")
When asked if such and such a word is a valid double contraction, most grammarians reply, _'Tisn’t._ Peace. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 1999, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wouldntve-double-contraction/5210/20 "1999-12-09T10:09:00Z")
Hey wow! Markxxx was talking about **me**!! Okay, that’s all I have to say. Bye. 🙂 * * * -PIGEONMAN- Hero For A New Millennium! [The Legend Of PigeonMan](http://www.hotkey.net.au/~guanolad/pigeonman/) - updates every Wed & Sat. If I can be bothered.