57c Using apostrophes to signal contractions
57cUsing apostrophes to signal contractions
Contents:
Distinguishing its and it’s
Signaling omissions
Contractions are two-
| 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.
Distinguishing its and it’s
Its is the possessive form of it. It’s is a contraction for it is or it has.
Signaling 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.