Punctuation

[Anonymous]

The Apostrophe , commonly used in Elizabethan English . Does it substitute particular lettres or how it can be dealt with

 

[Casiopea]

The original purpose of the apostrophe when they first appeared in the Sixteenth Century was to indicate missing letters in a word:

over = o'er
the effect = th'effect
could not = couldn't.
can not = can't

"A bear't that th'opposed may beware of thee," and "A 'tis in my memory lock'd"

Apostrophes are still used today to indicate lost letters:

can not = can't
I have = I've
it is = it's
who is = who's
you are = you're


Read about how to use apostrophes:
The Apostrophe Conundrum by Rosemarie Ostler
CLICK HERE

All the best,