how do i delete duplicate contacts

Go to icloud.com, sign into your iCloud account and look at the contact there. If there are duplicates on icloud.com, the easiest way to delete them is to click on each duplicate and press the delete key on your keyboard. If they aren't duplicated there, then they are being introduced either by syncing with and exchange account or by syncing with Outlook or Mac Address Book using iTunes. If this is the case, turn off this syncing. (For example, if the duplicates result from syncing with iTunes, uncheck Sync Contacts on the Info tab of your iTunes sync settings and sync. If they are from and exchange account, turn off concacts syncing on your exchange account). This is discussed in more detail here: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4147.

I just discovered that I couldntdelete a contact until I unfriended on Facebook. Until then, there was usually no delete option. If I was able to delete, it simply duplicated the contact. I hadn't ever used the Cloud, so that wasn't the issue.