What 'D ?

Davidrock65Dear teachers

I came across these in a novel that I'm reading :

" What'd you do? "and " Why'd you do that?"

A. Is it commonly used in conversation and writing?

B. Can I say or write " How'd he do that?" instead of "How did he do that?" and "Why'd, When'd" instead of "Why did and When did?"

C. Is it fine if I say or write" What's he do for a living?" instead of " What does he do for a living?" and "How's , Why's" instead of "How does and Why does?"

Thanks for answering my quesions

These contractions are very common in spoken AE. I do not recommend them in writing, unless quoting someone's speech, as in a short story.

Davidrock65
Dear teachers

I came across these in a novel that I'm reading :

" What'd you do? "and " Why'd you do that?"

A. Is it commonly used in conversation and writing?

B. Can I say or write " How'd he do that?" instead of "How did he do that?" and "Why'd, When'd" instead of "Why did and When did?"

C. Is it fine if I say or write" What's he do for a living?" instead of " What does he do for a living?" and "How's , Why's" instead of "How does and Why does?"

Thanks for answering my quesions

" What'd you do? "and " Why'd you do that?" - In sentences beginning with pronoun, it’s common to see “I’d prefer…. She’d consider….They’d rather wait…” etc. The [‘d] is the contraction of “would”.

A. Is it commonly used in conversation and writing? You will find this form of contraction commonly used. In my opinion, it’s fine, only when you can pronounce the subtle [‘d] sound in conversation.

B. Can I say or write " How'd he do that?" instead of "How did he do that?" not why’d do that?” and "Why'd, When'd" instead of "Why did and When did?" - No, in this context, the [‘d] is not the contraction form for [would]. We can’t contract [did] the same way, nor can it be used this way. We have to spell out [did] in spoken as well as written form completely. i.e. “why did he do that?”,

C. Is it fine if I say or write" What's he do for a living?" instead of " What does he do for a living?" and "How's , Why's" instead of "How does and Why does?" No for the same explanation as above

Keep in mind, the experts (not self included) are from different parts of the English speaking world and may have contrasting views and opinion on the subject. This only represents what I know as correct. Opinions welcome!

Dear Goodman

Your opinion on this subject is highly valued. However, I'm getting confused .

I often hear people say "What's he mean?" instead of "What does he mean?"

Here's an excerpt of a conversation in a novel I'm reading:

A: I have some good news

B: What?

A: My wife called me this morning.

B: What'd she say?

A: She said she stayed up all night thinking about us.

I think What'd she say represents What did she say in the dialogue.

Is the American usage on this different than the british one?

Often hear people say "What's he mean?" instead of "What does he mean?"

As I had indicated in my last post, if people do say "What's he mean?" the contracted [‘s] is pronounced fast in conversation. I personally do not recommend the contracted [‘s] for [does] in this context application. “What does he mean?” is the best form.

Hi Davidrock65 and Goodman

Native speakers contract all kinds of things in spoken English and this happens on both sides of the pond. I'm American, so my answer refers specifically to American English.

" What'd you do? "and " Why'd you do that?"


A. Is it commonly used in conversation and writing? It is extremely common in conversation. You should not use these types of contractions in written English.


B. Can I say or write " How'd he do that?" instead of "How did he do that?" and "Why'd, When'd" instead of "Why did and When did?" These contractions are quite typical in spoken English. You'll also hear things such as "wouldn't've" and "will've" and "there'll", etc . Donot use these contractions in written English.


C. Is it fine if I say or write" What's he do for a living?" instead of " What does he do for a living?" and "How's , Why's" instead of "How does and Why does?" YES to all for spoken English. Do not use these types of contractions in written English.

Thanks to all of you!!