Apostrophes

Contractions

The second major function of the APOSTROPHE is to show CONTRACTION. When we contract words or phrases or figures, we shrink them down and draw them together by eliminating a letter, letters, or numbers; and we denote that elimination by inserting an apostrophe ('). The apostrophe tells us that one or more letters have been left out. It is important, therefore, to place the apostrophe where the omission is.

CONTRACTION in writing is meant to reflect speech and so tends to bring a casual tone to written language. The writer, therefore, should be certain that the conversational tone is appropriate for the writing at hand. Formal writing, and even most informal writing, will not include contractions of the kind illustrated here, except in quotations. The writer's judgment regarding contractions is crucial. When in doubt, ask your instructors whether they allow the use of contractions in your writing. Following are some contractions commonly used in conversation and in informal writing:

it is, it has/it's I would/I'd will not/won't was not/wasn't he would/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

she is, she has/she's you will/you'll

does not/doesn't

Note: Remember to place the apostrophe at the spot where the omission occurs. Use only one apostrophe to indicate an omission, whether that omission is of one letter or two or more.

The following contractions use the verb "to have":

would've

should've

could've

might've

Do not write these words out as "would of", "could of", etc., because the apostrophe is helping to stand in for the word "have", not "of".

 

Other Uses of Apostrophes:

A. Use apostrophes in common phrases:

Rock 'n' roll Class of '97

B. Use apostrophes to indicate omissions in colloquial speech and dialects:

"It's an amaz'n' good idea, Duke – you have got a rattlin' clever head on you".