If we can say "what's" and "where's" for "what is" and "where is," I suppose we can say "what're" and "where're" for "what are" and "where are." However, there's less need for the plural contractions, since the singular ones actually do contract two syllables into one, whereas the plural ones still have two syllables each--it's just that the second isn't so distinctly articulated. But I've certainly heard many people say things like "What're you doing?" and "Where're the kids?" My opinion is that they're acceptable in informal speech but not in writing, unless you're writing dialogue or quoting what someone actually said.
Source(s):
Retired English professor
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The English language rules have changed and they are doing so, so fast that our language and the definitions of our language is being changed ............ For the worst me thinks that is...........texting has changed words, and the lack of grammar has changed the meaning of sentences...........
Here is and example of a political point scoring exercise from our, (Australian), Prime minister against her opposite number that has led to the definition of a word to be broadened by the Macquarie dictionary.
Sadly the rules don't apply anymore, I was reading about the lack of structure/grammer in sentences by the youth today could be leading to social and society based problems down the track because the brain is not being used in an organized manner with the meaning of sentences......or something to that effect
