Examples:
 The weather's bad.
(Written in full: The weather is bad. In this example, the apostrophe replaces the letter
'i'.)
Don't think about it.
(In full: Do not)
What horse c'ant you ride? 
[correct the example]
(The apostrophe is in the wrong place.)
(Should be: isn't)
(In full: is not)
Apostrophe error found in a Christmas cracker
Alan can't deliver on Tuesdays.
(In full: cannot)
Dawn could've left earlier.
(In full: could have)
They know it's not appropriate.
(In full: it is)
Sally is'nt able to complete her work.
[correct the example]
(The apostrophe is in the wrong place.)
(Should be: isn't)
(In full: is not)
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DON'T CONFUSE YOU'RE & YOUR
"You're" is short for "you are".
 You're a naughty boy.
"Your" is not short for "you are". It is used to show possession.
This is your PC.
This is you're PC.
Your a star.
DON'T CONFUSE IT'S AND ITS
"It's" is short for "it has" or "it is". (There are no other uses.)
It's stopped raining, and it's sunny.
"Its", on the other hand, is similar to "his" and "her" and is used to show possession.
I'm near the whale. I can see its tail.
This is it's fourth journey.
(its )
Its as easy as falling off a
log.
(it's )
DON'T WRITE SHOULD OF
"Should've" sounds like "should of", but it is short for "should have". (This is the same for "could've" and "would've".)
should of
, could of
, would
of
WRITE 'CANNOT' AS ONE WORD
"Cannot" is one word.
I can not stand in the rain for too long.
Although rare, it is possible to see "can" and "not" as two separate words. However, this is never an expansion of "can't".
She can not only sing but dance too.
NO APOSTROPHE IN OURS
Words like "ours", "theirs", "yours" and "hers" do not have apostrophes in them.
These books are ours.
You can use our's.
I saw theirs'.
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DON'T INVENT CONTRACTIONS
Words with apostrophes that replace letters are known as "contractions". You should only use recognised ones:
 g'tar
(replacing the "ui" in guitar)
potato's
(replacing the "e" in
potatoes)
WRITE THEM OUT IN FULL
In business writing, it is unusual to use contractions. You should write all words in their full forms.
Therefore, the delivery date can't be met.
(use
"cannot" )
It's available for collection on
Tuesday.
(use "It is" )
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