Punctuation: Contractions and Apostrophes

Contractions: Showing Omission of Letters

Apostrophes are used in contractions. A contraction is a word in which one or more letters have been omitted. The apostrophe shows this omission. To use an apostrophe to create a contraction, place an apostrophe where the missing letter(s) would go. Here are some examples:

Examples: don't = do not (The apostrophe represents the missing “o” letter.) I'm = I am (The apostrophe represents the missing “a” letter.) he'll = he will (The apostrophe represents the missing “wi” letters.) who's = who is (The apostrophe represents the missing “i” letter.) shouldn't = should not (The apostrophe represents the missing “o” letter.) didn't = did not (The apostrophe represents the missing “o” letter.) could've= could have (NOT "could of"!) (The apostrophe represents the missing “ha” letters.) '60 = 1960 (The apostrophe represents the missing “19” numbers.)