Stop using the word "I'd"

This is a contraction for 2 different phrases - and it can be difficult to distinguish between them

I discourage using the word "I'd".

This is a contraction for 2 different phrases:

1) I would

2) I had

Depending on the context, they can denote very different things.

1) The phrase "I would read the report" is a hypothetical situation. I have not ACTUALLY read the report yet.

2) The phrase "I had read the report" is a declaration that I did read the report already. (Note that "read" is a past participle in this phrase. It has the same spelling as the present tense, but it is pronounced "red".)

If you write the contractions for these 2 phrases, they would both be "I'd read the report". This is confusing. The same sentence actually has 2 different meanings, depending how you expand that contraction.

There is another disadvantage of using "I'd": Verbally, the "d" sound in "I'd" is difficult to discern, especially if you say it quickly.

Lesson: Don't write or say "I'd". Instead, be explicit and use "I would" or "I had".

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If you are reading my posts for the first time: I'm Eric Cai, a statistician based in Toronto, Canada. I write about statistics, communication, and career development for professionals in data & analytics. Subscribe to get my articles delivered to your inbox at 9:30 AM Eastern time on Monday to Friday.