I say this is the most abused/confused apostrophe rule because of the it's/its problems discussed in one of my first posts. Remember? It's always means it is.
Very few people get this right all of the time. Even I have been known to slip up on occasion. One of my readers noticed this error in my romance novel, Just Desserts. Apparently two editors and the author missed it, and I'll get it fixed ASAP.
But problems don't stop with the it's/its issue. An apostrophe is required to indicate that one or more letters has been omitted from a word. We used to call these words contractions.
Using an apostrophe in a contraction can be quite simple. In words such as o'clock (which hardly anyone uses anymore), the apostrophe indicates the letter f and the word the have been omitted. Apparently, we used to say, "It's one of the clock." Now we just say, "It's one o'clock.")
But it's the common-as-dirt verb contractions that usually trip up writers. Words such as I'm, you're, he's, they're, we've, it's (already mentioned....) and many more.
People often don't, won't and can't remember where to place the apostrophe. They shouldn't be so confused. The apostrophe replaces the omitted letter or letters. When in doubt, avoid the contraction altogether and write out the full two words: I am, you are, he is, they are, it is, etc.
In the above example, omitting the apostrophe mightn't give readers a huge problem, unless they confuse the word cant (leaning) with can't (can not), or wont (inclination) with won't (will not).
It's always better to err on the side of clarity. Besides, in formal writing, we should avoid using contractions. Leave them to informal blogs, chatty emails and fiction.
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