the.com/contraction
Where two words fall in love, lose a letter, and gain an apostrophe.
means A shortened word or phrase formed by squeezing out sounds and marking the gap with an apostrophe, as in don't or we'll.
from From Latin contrahere, to draw together — the same root that gives contract, because both pull things tightly into less space.
Ancient lazinessRomans abbreviated speech long before English did.
Double dutySame word names the birth-pang muscle squeeze.
Tricky twinsIt's means it is; its owns things.
Ye olde mythThat Y was actually a Th sound.