Abbreviations Abbreviations generally should be avoided in written English – it is always better to spell words out in full – but every now and again it is handy to use a shortened form of a common word. We might not have a lot of space (for example, in labelling columns, as in a calendar
Apostrophes and contractions Part of the reason that people find apostrophes confusing is that we use them in two different ways: to show possession (or, as I prefer to say, close association) between two things to show where letters have been left out of word or where it has been contracted (sometimes the contracted word
Welcome to Apostrophes, Etc. In my first post, I thought I’d tackle one of the most common questions about apostrophes. It’s is always an abbreviation for it is or it has, in the same way that he’s is an abbreviation for he is or he has. It’s, despite having an apostrophe, has nothing to do