One of the benefits of using words with an apostrophe is that it makes spoken English sound relaxed and natural. However when it comes to formal letters words like the ones listed below should not be used. For example: My order didn’t arrive on time. is not acceptable but My order did not arrive on time. is acceptable.
List of Words Joined by The Use of an Apostrophe
Below is a list of words that are joined together by the use of an apostrophe. For example: could not is changed to couldn’t. You can see from this example that the apostrophe has replaced one of the letters and in some cases an apostrophe will replace more than one letter.
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aren’t |
are not
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can’t |
can not
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could’ve |
could have |
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couldn’t |
could not |
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didn’t |
did not |
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doesn’t |
does not |
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don’t |
do not |
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hadn’t |
had not |
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hasn’t |
has not |
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haven’t |
have not |
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he’d |
he had |
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he’ll |
he will |
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he’s |
he is |
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here’s |
here is |
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I’d |
I had, I should or I would |
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I’ll |
I shall or I will |
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I’m |
I am |
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I’ve |
I have |
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isn’t |
is not |
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it’s |
it is |
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let’s |
let us |
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mustn’t |
must not |
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shan’t |
shall not |
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she’d |
she would or she had |
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she’s |
she is |
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she'll |
she will |
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should’ve |
should have |
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shouldn’t |
should not |
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that’s |
that is |
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they’d |
they had or they would |
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they’ll |
they will |
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they’re |
they are |
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they’ve |
they have |
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wasn’t |
was not |
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we’d |
we had or we would |
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we’ll |
we shall |
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we’re |
we are |
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we’ve |
we have |
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weren’t |
were not |
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what’s |
what is |
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where’s |
where is |
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who’s |
who is |
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won’t |
will not |
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would’ve |
would have |
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wouldn’t |
would not |
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you’d |
you had or you would |
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you’ll |
you will |
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you’re |
you are |
