Apostrophe for Omission and Contractions
The Apostrophe
Rulebase Summary
Use an apostrophe to show the omission of letters and syllables in contractions and numerical expressions. Standard contractions (isn't, can't, it's), shortened years ('57, '80s), and dialect forms all use apostrophes to mark missing characters.
Examples
A. I graduated in the class of 57.
A. I graduated in the class of '57.
Shortened years require an apostrophe to mark the omitted digits.
A. Its not what I expected.
A. It's not what I expected.
It's is the contraction of it is — the apostrophe marks the missing letter.
Transcript Notes
Remember that it's is the shortened form of it is — spelling this contraction wrong in any written matter is a serious error. Words like phone, bus, plane, cello, and possum are no longer contractions and take no apostrophe. Do not use 'til — use till, which means until and is not a contraction.
Style Guide References (2)
Morson's
BGGP