In article ,
Tim Streater wrote:

In article
, dorayme
wrote:

In article ,
Tim Streater wrote:

In article , Your Name
wrote:

The apostrophe in words like it's ...

"it's" is not a word. It's a contraction of "it is".

An alternative theory: it *is* a word and means the same as the longer
phrase.

That's a hypothesis you are putting forward, not a theory. Mine was a
theory because it is supported by evidence. Snoot snoot !!

It is a silly distinction in this context. In your heart of hearts,
you know this Tim! What evidence? Schevidence, schmevidence indeed.

--
dorayme