Apostrophes for missing letters

A contraction is a short form of two words joined together, with some letters left out: ⟦do not⟧ → ⟦don't⟧. The apostrophe ⟦'⟧ goes exactly where the missing letters were. We use contractions in speech and in friendly writing.

Key facts

  • ⟦not⟧ becomes ⟦n't⟧: ⟦is not → isn't⟧, ⟦do not → don't⟧, ⟦did not → didn't⟧, ⟦could not → couldn't⟧.
  • ⟦am⟧, ⟦are⟧, ⟦is⟧: ⟦I'm⟧, ⟦you're⟧, ⟦we're⟧, ⟦they're⟧, ⟦he's⟧, ⟦she's⟧, ⟦it's⟧.
  • ⟦will⟧ and ⟦have⟧: ⟦I'll⟧, ⟦she'll⟧, ⟦they'll⟧; ⟦I've⟧, ⟦we've⟧, ⟦they've⟧.
  • Special ones: ⟦will not → won't⟧, ⟦cannot → can't⟧, ⟦let us → let's⟧.
  • Don't mix them up with sound-alikes: ⟦it's⟧ (⟦it is⟧) and ⟦its⟧ (belonging to it); ⟦they're⟧ and ⟦their⟧; ⟦you're⟧ and ⟦your⟧.

Worked examples

Example 1

Write the short form of ⟦they are⟧.

  1. ⟦they are⟧: the ⟦a⟧ of ⟦are⟧ is left out.
  2. Put the apostrophe where the ⟦a⟧ was: ⟦they're⟧.

Answer: ⟦they're⟧

Example 2

Write the short form of ⟦should not⟧.

  1. ⟦not⟧ becomes ⟦n't⟧: the ⟦o⟧ is left out.
  2. Join it to ⟦should⟧: ⟦shouldn't⟧ (not ⟦should'nt⟧).

Answer: ⟦shouldn't⟧

Example 3

Write ⟦won't⟧ in full.

  1. ⟦won't⟧ is special: it doesn't look like its full form.
  2. ⟦won't⟧ = ⟦will not⟧.

Answer: ⟦will not⟧

Example 4

Rewrite with contractions: ⟦I am sure it is not here.⟧

  1. ⟦I am⟧ → ⟦I'm⟧.
  2. ⟦is not⟧ → ⟦isn't⟧ (or ⟦it is⟧ → ⟦it's⟧).
  3. ⟦I'm sure it isn't here.⟧

Answer: ⟦I'm sure it isn't here.⟧ (or ⟦it's not here⟧)