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Pedants' corner

Correct Apostrophe Placement in 'Twas and 'Tis?

5 replies

beststarteveryday · 13/05/2014 15:37

I was always taught that it was placed at the beginning. But a friend of mine insists it's t'was and t'is, which looks completely wrong to me.

OP posts:
Youdontneedacriminallawyer · 13/05/2014 15:39

You put the apostrophe where there's a letter missing,
Twas is short for it was, so you're right, it's 'twas.
Tis is short for it is, so it's 'tis.

beststarteveryday · 13/05/2014 15:44

Thank you! That's my reasoning too, but when somebody insists you're wrong it can make you doubt yourself Grin

Ah, my poor friend - I told her I would be posting. She prides herself on being a grammar pedant...

OP posts:
MirandaGoshawk · 13/05/2014 17:03

You are right. Your friend is wrong. Smile

DramaAlpaca · 13/05/2014 17:04

Agree with everyone else. You are right, she is wrong.

DadDadDad · 13/05/2014 17:46

Your friend may have been thinking of formations like "put t'kettle on" where you want to sound like your from your Yorkshire, replacing the with t'.

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