Unavoidable words

Behold, the mighty apostrophe! The tiny symbol makes us all talk faster

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Aside from their use to describe the pains of childbirth, contractions are little shortcuts that make English sound natural and easy in everyday speech. They work by blending words and dropping letters, usually with an apostrophe standing in their place. We all use them daily, often without even thinking about it. Let’s take a look at 12 of the most common ones.

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The first item on our list is the contraction of "I am." It entered English centuries ago, as speakers sought smoother and faster ways to communicate. Here, the apostrophe replaces the missing "a."

Today, "I’m" is one of the most common contractions in both conversation and casual writing. You’ll hear it everywhere—from introductions like "I’m John" to everyday statements such as "I’m hungry."

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"You’re" blends "you are" into a quicker form. The apostrophe stands in for the dropped "a." Its use became widespread in both spoken and written English over time.

Today, "you’re" is essential in everyday communication. Whether in texts, casual notes, or speech, most people favor it over the more formal "you are" in informal settings.

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"He’s" is the contraction of either "he is" or "he has." The meaning depends on context: "He’s running" means "he is running," while "He’s gone" means "he has gone."

It’s one of the most common spoken contractions, helping speech and writing sound more natural. You’ll see it in conversations, books, and movies, adding natural flow.

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There’s no "he’s" without a "she’s." This contraction can mean "she is" or "she has," depending on how it’s used. Like many others, it reflects the natural rhythm of spoken English.

Like its masculine counterpart, "she’s" is an everyday staple, heard in phrases like "She’s ready" or "She’s been there." It makes speech and writing quicker, more direct, and more conversational.

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"It’s" is the contraction of either "it is" or "it has," with the apostrophe marking the missing letter. It is often confused with its, the possessive form (as in "The dog wagged its tail").

In current use, "it’s" is one of the most common contractions in English, referring to things or animals. Common sentences like "It’s cold outside" or "It’s been fun" show just how indispensable it is.

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"We’re" is the contraction of "we are," with the apostrophe replacing the missing "a." It has been in use for centuries as a way to make speech and writing smoother and more efficient

Today, "we’re" is common in everyday English, especially in collaborative or group contexts. You’ll hear it in phrases like "We’re going out" or "We’re ready."

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"They’re" blends "they are," again with the apostrophe marking the missing letters. It’s often confused with the homophones their (possessive) and there (location), which makes it challenging for many learners.

Today, "they’re" is frequently used in both speech and informal writing. Common examples include "They’re happy" and "They’re working," showing how practical and natural the contraction is in everyday English.

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"Don’t" is the shortened form of "do not." Its first known use dates back to the 17th century, when written English began reflecting casual speech.

Today, it’s one of the most common negative contractions. You’ll hear it everywhere, in phrases like "Don’t worry," "Don’t move," and "Don’t forget." It may be informal, but it’s practically universal.

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"Can’t" contracts "cannot," with the apostrophe replacing the missing "no." This form has been part of spoken English for centuries, reflecting natural speech patterns.

Today, it’s one of the most common contractions, used to express inability or prohibition. Phrases like "I can’t swim" or "You can’t do that" are everyday examples of its use.

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The third and final negative contraction on this list, "won’t," is the shortened version of "will not." Unlike most contractions, it does not follow the usual pattern of dropping letters, as it evolved from older English forms such as "wonnot" or "wynnot."

Currently, "won’t" is one of the most familiar negative contractions. Frequently used in speech and writing, it appears in everyday phrases like "I won’t go" or "He won’t listen."

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"I’ve" shortens "I have," usually when "have" acts as an auxiliary verb. The contraction drops the "ha" and replaces it with an apostrophe.

Today, "I’ve" is commonly used in casual speech: for example, "I’ve seen that movie" or "I’ve been there." It helps make everyday expressions smoother and more natural.

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"Let’s" comes from "let us," and has been used for centuries to invite joint action. The apostrophe shows the missing "u."

Today, "let’s" is common in casual English. From "Let’s go" to "Let’s see," it provides a friendly, inclusive way to suggest doing something together.

From weddings to moon landing: The most-watched events in history

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There are rare moments when the world seems to pause and look in the same direction. From royal weddings to space exploration, the past century has held live broadcasts that became shared experiences across international borders and inside billions of homes. Let’s look at some of the most-watched events in history!

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In 2022, when Queen Elizabeth II passed away after 70 years on the throne, the world paid its respects. Estimated to have been watched by around 4.1 billion people globally, it became the most-watched television broadcast in history.

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Around 3.5 billion viewers worldwide tuned in for the 1996 opening ceremony, making it one of the highest-watched sporting events ever.

The show included memorable performances and the iconic lighting of the Olympic flame by Muhammad Ali, whose Parkinson’s disease made his appearance all the more powerful.

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In September 1997, the streets of London filled with mourners as the world watched one of the most widely broadcast funerals in history.

Estimates for viewership of beloved Princess Diana’s final goodbye range from 2 to 2.5 billion globally. The image of Princes William and Harry walking behind their mother’s coffin became a scene etched into collective memory.

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One night in 1978, the Superdome in New Orleans became the center of the sporting world as Muhammad Ali sought to reclaim his heavyweight title from Leon Spinks.

Ali had suffered a shocking defeat just months earlier, and the rematch was expected to be a career-defining moment. More than 63,000 people packed the arena, while an estimated 2 billion tuned in globally to watch.

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The dual-venue concert for famine relief in Ethiopia reached around 1.5 to 1.9 billion viewers in over 110 countries. Its star-studded lineup (including Queen, U2, David Bowie, The Who, Elton John, Madonna, and dozens more) and satellite broadcast turned it into a legendary day for music and media history.

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Football (a.k.a. soccer) remains one of the few mass spectator sports able to unite audiences across every continent. The 2022 World Cup finale might be called the greatest in history, as it attracted around 1.5 billion viewers globally.

Argentina and France delivered a rollercoaster of drama: Lionel Messi against Kylian Mbappé, and the tension of a shootout that crowned Argentina champions.

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An Elvis Presley concert, beamed live worldwide from Hawaii, was one of the first broadcast globally via satellite, reaching about 1.5 billion viewers. It marked a milestone in both cultural globalization and live entertainment broadcasting.

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Michael Jackson’s memorial service held in L.A. in 2009 was not only attended by fellow stars like Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, and Jennifer Hudson, but watched by around 2 billion people around the world. Family and friends remembered Jackson not just as the "King of Pop" but as a father, son, and brother.

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The royal wedding of 2018 at Windsor Castle became the focus of millions of curious watchers as Prince Harry married American actress Meghan Markle.

It reportedly reached about 1.9 billion viewers worldwide. Royal weddings traditionally capture massive audiences, and this one in particular became a symbol of a more diverse and contemporary monarchy.

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Of course, it must be included in this list: an estimated 600 million people worldwide watched live as Neil Armstrong took his first steps on the Moon. For the 1960s, that was groundbreaking.

Though smaller in raw numbers than later global broadcasts, it was unprecedented for its time and remains one of the most iconic television moments in history. The landing symbolized a giant leap not only for space exploration but also for the shared experience of global media.