Using apostrophes to signal contractions

Page contents:

  • its and it’s

  • Omissions

Contractions are two-word combinations formed by leaving out certain letters, which are indicated by an apostrophe.

it is, it has/it’s I would, I had/I’d will not/won’t
was not/wasn’t he would, he had/he’d let us/let’s
I am/I’m would not/wouldn’t who is, who has/who’s
he is, he has/he’s do not/don’t cannot/can’t
you will/you’ll does not/doesn’t

Contractions are common in both conversation and informal writing. Some academic and professional work, however, calls for greater formality.

its and it’s

Its is the possessive form of it. It’s is a contraction for it is or it has.

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Omissions

An apostrophe signals omissions in some common phrases:

ten of the clock rock and roll class of 2003
ten o’clock rock ’n’ roll class of ’03

In addition, writers can use an apostrophe to signal omitted letters in approximating the sound of speech or a specific dialect.

You should’a seen ’em playin’ together.