Rule I. Letters Omitted.—The apostrophe is used to indicate the omission of a letter or letters.

EXAMPLES.

“O Marcia, O my sister, still there’s hope!”—Addison.

“Thou knowest ’tis common; all, that live, must die,

Passing through nature to eternity.”—Shakespeare.

REMARK.

The apostrophe is made like a comma, but is placed above the line.

Rule II. Possession.—The apostrophe is used to denote possession.

EXAMPLES.

Taine’s “English Literature.” Rawlinson’s “Ancient Monarchies.”