Weren’t

The forms aren’t, and weren’t do not have the sanction of the best speakers and writers, and should be used sparingly, if at all.

Shouldn’t and Wouldn’t

These are frequently used in speech, but are not so common in writing.

Mustn’t, Mayn’t, Mightn’t, and Oughtn’t

Mustn’t may be used in light conversation, but not in writing.  The others should be avoided in speech and writing.
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I’m, You’re, He’s, She’s, It’s, We’re, They’re

The contractions formed by compounding the pronoun with the verb are very common, and tend to preserve conversation from becoming stiff and formal.  Nouns in the singular are sometimes compounded in like manner; as, “John’s going by the early train,” “Mary’s caught a bird.”  Not many verbs beside is and has are thus compounded, and the practice should be discouraged.

Mayst, Mightst

Although mayst, canst, mightst, couldst, wouldst, and shouldst are contracted forms, the apostrophe is not employed to indicate the contraction.

Daren’t, Dursent

Dare not is sometimes contracted to daren’t and durst not to dursent, but the practice should not be encouraged.

Let’s

While verbs are often contracted when compounded with pronouns, as it’s, he’s, I’m, you’re, etc., the pronoun must not be contracted to form a combination with the verb.  It may be a poor rule, but it will not work both ways.  Let’s should therefore be let us.
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CHAPTER IV

 Possessive Case

Some time ago a shoe merchant called upon the writer to know how to arrange the points in the wording of a new sign that he was preparing to place over his door.  He made a specialty of shoes for men and boys.  He presented a paper containing the lines: 

                        Men’s and Boy’s Shoes. 
                        Mens’ and Boys’ Shoes.

He was politely informed that both were incorrect; that the two words form their plurals differently, and that the possessive case is, therefore, formed in a different manner.  The plural of man is men,; the plural of boy is boys.  The possessive of man is man’s; of men is men’s.  The possessive of boy is boy’s; of boys is boys’.  In the latter case we are obliged to place the apostrophe after the s in order to distinguish the possessive plural from the possessive singular.  All nouns that form their plurals by adding s to the singular, form their possessive case as the word boy does.  The sign should therefore read: 

Men’s and Boys’ Shoes.
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Singular Nouns

All nouns in the singular form their possessive case by adding the apostrophe and the letter s; as, child’s, girl’s, woman’s, bird’s, brother’s, sister’s, judge’s, sailor’s.