‘n or n’ or ‘n’? (Apostrophe When Shortening “and”)

Have you ever found that the word “and” is just too long? Or perhaps it seems too formal and you’re trying to let everyone know how laidback you are? 

You could try shortening it to just the jaunty letter “n” – but when you do, where should the apostrophe go?

‘n or n’ or ‘n’ – Apostrophe When Shortening “and”

Shortening “and” to ‘n’ is the most technically correct, as it indicates that both the “a” and “d” are being omitted. However, because this omission is colloquial, you can choose to place the apostrophe before or after instead. Either ‘n or n’ or ‘n’ would be acceptable in informal writing. 

The answer to the question ‘should you put the apostrophe before or after the “n”’ is, essentially, ‘yes’! You can put the apostrophe wherever you feel it looks most appropriate.

An apostrophe in this case is being used to indicate that there is part of the word missing. We use it all the time in contractions:

• Was not = Wasn’t
• Is not = Isn’t
• Should have = Should’ve

We place the apostrophe wherever a chunk of the word has been taken out. Following this logic, ‘n’ could be considered the most “correct” format, as both the “a” and the “d” have been removed.

However, in practice, a variety of formats are used. With no clear consensus apparent, you can decide what form to use in your writing. Just stick to typing out those two extra letters for “and” in your formal writing.

‘n

An “n” with an apostrophe in front of it is standing in for the word “and”. The apostrophe shows us that part of the word is missing. 

It is a slang usage and not appropriate to use in formal writing, such as academic essays or work communications. It has a relaxed tone and can be used to indicate an easy-going environment. 

This abbreviation is used by companies that want to convey a simple, everyday feeling with their brand:

• Steak ‘n Shake
• Shake ‘n Bake 

It can also be used to combine two separate entities and show that they are working as a team, like in this film released by Disney in 2022:

• Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers 

When an abbreviated ‘n is used instead of “and”, it conveys a deeper sense of unity between the two things it’s connecting. It implies that the two joined things come as a pair.

So, it would be jarring to use it like this:

• I’m going to the shop to pick up some tuna ‘n flowers.

Since tuna and flowers are not known for going together. It would make much more sense to a reader if used like this:

• Let’s just grab some burgers ‘n fries.

Burgers and fries are an established pair, which makes this sentence feel much more natural.

n’

An “n” with an apostrophe after it is standing in for the word “and”. It is not as commonly used as the alternatives: ‘n or ‘n’. All three serve the same purpose and the apostrophe just indicates that part of the word is missing.

The use of “n’” is not appropriate for academic or business writing, but can be used in informal writing to create a relaxed tone.

Despite being less popular than its abbreviated companions, this version has the honor of being used by one band you might have heard of:

• Guns N’ Roses

Shortening “and” to n’ indicates that the two things you’re joining together are an established pair – separate entities combining to make a strong team:

• Bagels n’ lox
• Peanut butter n’ jelly 
• Cheese n’ pickle 
• Green eggs n’ ham

‘n’

An “n” with apostrophes around it is standing in for the word “and”. The use of two apostrophes demonstrates that both the “a” and the “d” are missing from the word.

This is the usage shown in the Cambridge Dictionary and would be considered the most “technically correct” compared to ‘n or n’. However, it is still slang and only appropriate for informal writing.

The examples given in the Cambridge Dictionary are:

• Rock ‘n’ Roll
• Fish ‘n’ Chips

As previously mentioned, abbreviating “and” to just “n” indicates that the two things you are joining work as a team. It is not a good idea to use it to join two things that don’t work as a team: 

• Pillows ‘n’ knives
• Crying in my room ‘n’ an excellent social life

When Can I Use the Shortened Form of “and”?

You can use the shortened form of “and” as “n” when you want to convey a relaxed, homely vibe. It is best used when joining together two things that are often combined. It is not appropriate for formal writing.

If you would like to use an abbreviated written version of “and” that has a somewhat classier feel, consider the humble ampersand: &

It’s quick, efficient & can be found at the top of your keyboard.

Again though, when writing in formal scenarios, it’s best to stick with “and”. 

Final Thoughts

It is acceptable to use any version of “n” in informal writing: ‘n, n’, or ‘n’. Following standard grammatical conventions, ‘n’ would be considered the most technically accurate. This abbreviation has a homely feel and can help you to convey a relaxed tone or atmosphere.