tis

’tis is a contraction of it is, used in English primarily in Early Modern English. It is written as ’tis or simply tis in some fonts, with the leading apostrophe signaling the omission of it and the space and the letters that would complete the phrase it is. The contraction is common in poetry, drama, and prose from the 16th to 18th centuries and is characteristic of Shakespeare and other Renaissance authors. It helps maintain meter or a period voice in dialogue and narration. Modern editors typically prefer it is or it’s in non-archaic text, reserving ’tis for quotations, historical fiction, or stylistic effect. The contraction has no separate meaning beyond it is; it declines in frequency in contemporary usage but remains a recognized part of the history of English orthography. Related contractions include ’twas (it was) and ’twill (it will). See also contractions in English, Early Modern English, and Shakespeare for context.