We all use it, this little contraction that saves us a syllable or two. But have you ever stopped to think about the many ways "what’s" can be used?
What’s the origin?
"What’s" is simply a shortening of "what is" or "what has." It’s a contraction, which means we’ve combined two words into one for ease of pronunciation. This kind of contraction has been around in English for centuries, and "what’s" is one of the most common examples.
What’s it used for?
"What’s" can serve a couple of different grammatical functions. Here are the two main ones:
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Questions: This is probably the most common use of "what’s." We use it to ask questions about something’s identity or state of being.
- "What’s that sound?"
- "What’s your name?"
- "What’s going on?"
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Following a verb: Here, "what’s" acts as a shortened version of "what has."
- "Tell me what’s happened." (What has happened)
- "See what’s in the fridge." (See what has been put in the fridge)
Beyond the basics:
"What’s" can also be used in some idiomatic expressions, such as "What’s the difference?" or "What’s up?"
Is "what’s" proper grammar?
In informal contexts, "what’s" is perfectly acceptable and widely used. However, in formal writing, it’s generally better to use the full form "what is" or "what has" for clarity.
So, what’s the takeaway?
"What’s" is a handy contraction that can be used in most everyday situations. Just be mindful of the context and formality of your writing when deciding between "what’s" and the full form.
