Python 2.3.5 (#1, Mar 20 2005, 20:38:20) 
[GCC 3.3 20030304 (Apple Computer, Inc. build 1809)] on darwin
Type "copyright", "credits" or "license()" for more information.

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IDLE 1.0      

>>> conts = { "I've" : "I have", \
	  "I'll" : "I will", \
	  "I'm"  : "I am" }

>>> conts[ "I've" ]

>>> print conts[ "I've" ]

>>> conts[ 'won\'t' ] = 'will not'

>>> conts    # not ordered

>>> dir(str)

>>> help(str.replace)

>>> x = [ i for i in conts ]

>>> x

>>> "I'll" in "this is a test of I'll contraction"

>>> "I'm" in "this is a test of I'll contraction"

>>> str = 'this is a test of I\'ll and won\'t and hasn\'t'
>>> str

>>> for i in conts:
	if i in str:
		str = str.replace( i, conts[i] )

>>> str

>>> help(file)

>>> f = file( 'contractions.txt', 'r')

>>> stuff = f.read()

>>> print stuff

>>> for i in conts:
	if i in stuff:
		stuff = stuff.replace( i, conts[i] )
		
>>> print stuff

>>> f.close()