The Editor's Manual
Free learning resource on English grammar, punctuation, usage, and style.
Standard contractions include those with “not” (“don’t,” “isn’t”), forms of the “be” verb (“I’m,” “she’s”), the “have” verb (“I’ve,” “he’s”), and “will” and “would” (“I’ll,” “you’d”).
Contractions are common in speech and informal writing but avoided in formal texts.
Contractions are shortened forms in which some letters are omitted. An apostrophe usually marks the contraction. Here is a list of more than 70 standard contractions in English.
“It’s” (with the apostrophe) is a contraction of “it is” or “it has.” “Its” (without the apostrophe) is the possessive form of “it.”
“Who’s” is the contraction of “who is” or “who has,” while “whose” is the possessive form of “who.”
Contractions are shortened forms in which some letters or sounds are omitted. An apostrophe marks the omission. Avoid using contractions in formal texts.