A contraction squeezes two words into one, and the apostrophe stands where letters were left out: do not → don’t. It is a different job from the apostrophe in possessives, and mixing the two up causes the most famous slip in English: its and it’s.
| Two words | Contraction | Letters left out |
|---|---|---|
| do not | don’t | o |
| it is / it has | it’s | i / ha |
| they are | they’re | a |
| you are | you’re | a |
| we have | we’ve | ha |
| she will | she’ll | wi |
| could have | could’ve | ha |
| will not | won’t | an odd one: the word changes |
Key idea
The apostrophe goes exactly where letters are missing. It’s always means it is or it has. Its, meaning “belonging to it,” has no apostrophe, just like his, hers and ours.
Why it works
A reader uses the apostrophe to rebuild the full words. If it’s appears where no “it is” fits, the reader stumbles.
Worked example: Its or it’s?
“The team lost (its / it’s) first game.”
- Try the long form: “The team lost it is first game.” That makes no sense.
- So the word means “belonging to it”: no apostrophe.
Answer: The team lost its first game.
Worked example: Where does the apostrophe go?
“does’nt” or “doesn’t”?
- The two words are does not.
- The letter left out is the o in not.
- The apostrophe takes its place.
Answer: doesn’t
Common mistake
Writing it’s for the possessive. Read “it is” in its place; if that doesn’t fit, write its. Contractions themselves are fine in most writing. Some teachers ask for full forms in formal essays, so follow the assignment.