* Informal: You could use something informal like "It's was L" but it wouldn't be grammatically correct and might be confusing.
* Formal: In formal writing, abbreviations are generally avoided, especially for common phrases.
Instead of abbreviating, you could:
* Use a shorter phrase: "It was late" can often be replaced with "Late" or "It was getting late" depending on the context.
* Reword the sentence: For example, you could say "I arrived late."
Ultimately, the best way to communicate your message depends on the context and your audience.