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From: "Jann Keenan" <jkeenan@erols.com>
To: <nifl-health@nifl.gov>, "Multiple recipients of list" <nifl-health@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: RE: [NIFL-HEALTH:2960] Re: Contractions
Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 16:07:52 -0800
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To add to the mix . . . I've had good experiences using contractions in my
writing.- even for folks with limited literacy. When I test for reading
comprehension I find that people know that "don't" means they aren't
supposed to do something. Also "cannot" reads like a compound word and
"can't" just seems much more friendly in tone--one of our health literacy
goals. I agree with Deb to steer clear of the contraction "they're" (as it
is so easily confused with their and there and is not a sight word).
Besides, it just plain old looks hard to read.
In terms of grammar, I'm less concerned about something being grammatically
correct if it is understandable. It took me a while to get to this comfort
level as I remember enduring long hours at parties while folks told me I
was promoting the "dumbing down" of America. I guess I stopped going to some
of those parties and nowadays comfortably start sentences with "AND." AND it
seems to work just fine in terms of readability for my intended audience.
BUT, I sometimes find my clients are significantly tougher to convince than
the targeted audience.
With anything, I urge folks to pre-test. Field testing is really the key to
determining if your message is coming across loud and clear. Believe we'll
find out fairly quickly if our clients can understand contractions if we ask
them.
Warm regards,
Jann Keenan
[Jann Keenan] -----Original Message-----
From: nifl-health@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-health@nifl.gov]On Behalf Of
Dwyoho@aol.com
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2001 11:28 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: [NIFL-HEALTH:2960] Re: Easy to read vs. grammatically incorre
In a message dated 03/20/2001 4:16:36 PM Eastern Standard Time,
knonesuch@TheHub.capcollege.bc.ca writes:
I don't know of any studies, but I notice that my weakest students don't
read contractions.
This is my experience too. As someone who directly teaches reading
skills, I
can share that the words "do" and "not" are taught separately and before
the
word "don't", although "don't" and "won't" are sight words that come
fairly
early. Other contractions, however, are more problematic: "They're", for
example. As always in plain language, the use of contractions depends on
who
you are targeting (I suppose I should write "whom" you are targeting!) My
advice is to avoid contactions if you are trying to reach very low
literacy
folks.
Deborah W. Yoho
Co-moderator, NIFL Health Literacy Discussion Group
Chief Executive Officer
Greater Columbia Literacy Council
921 Woodrow Street
Columbia, SC 29205
803/765-2555 dwyoho@aol.com
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