Post History

Working on the principle that language is defined by the users and not a 'Formal Committee on Language', I submit the use of double contractions by Lewis Carroll is close enough to formal recognition to pass muster.

He was especially fond of: sha'n't (which is only two words, but contracted twice), but also used "I'd've", and "wouldn't've" "couldn't've" etc.

[Some other site](https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/538184/twas-good-until-twasn-t) had a look at this with a question on: ‘Twas good until ‘twasn’t, and a specific question on Mr Carroll's usage:  [Is Lewis Carroll correct in his suggestion on some abbreviations?](https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/510975/is-lewis-carroll-correct-in-his-suggestion-on-some-abbreviations)

Anyone who argues that words can have only one apostrophe should take a close look at the abbreviation for forecastle:  fo'c'sle or fo'c's'le according to [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forecastle)

However, I wouldn't call it normative.