Apostrophe Use: Contractions And Omissions

Apostrophes can show an omission of letters, whether as part of a contraction or when showing dialect or accent.

I’m = I am

Where’s = where is

Who’s = who is

It’s = it is, or it has (N.B. This is the contraction, not the possessive.)

Isn’t = is not

Couldn’t = could not

Who’d = who would

Aren’t = are not

‘Cause = because

Ain’t = is not, are not

D’you = do you

Hallowe’en = Hallow evening

Jo’burg = Johannesburg