Apostrophes replace missing letters.

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An apostrophe can be used to replace a letter (or letters).
 


Apostrophes Replace Missing Letters

In informal writing, apostrophes are often used to replace missing letters. This is to reflect how many speak.

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)


grammar errors
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.

See lesson You're and Your

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 )

See the lesson It's and Its

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. 

(Note: There is a lot of leniency on this ruling.  Many like to use can not over cannot for added emphasis.)


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'.

These are called absolute possessives
grammar tips
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 highly 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 )

Associated lessons:
 
The apostrophe error with plurals
Apostrophes in time (temporal) expressions
Apostrophes to show the plural of abbreviations
Apostrophes show possession
 
 

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