Apostrophes (Part 4 of 4)

(This post comes from Susan Titus Osborn.)

In contractions, an apostrophe normally replaces omitted letters.

* don't, can't, won't, shouldn't, wouldn't

* singin', 'tis, and rock 'n' roll

To avoid confusion, lowercase letters form the plural with an apostrophe and an s.

* x's and y's

In informal writing the first two digits of a particular year are often replaced by an apostrophe.

* the class of '62

Susan Titus Osborn is the director of the Christian Communicator Manuscript Critique Service. She has authored 30 books. You can reach her at susanosb@aol.com, http://www.Christiancommunicator.com/.