In the vast landscape of the English language, certain words seem almost designed to trip up writers. Its and it’s fall into this category, as they often lead to confusion and grammatical blunders.
Fear not, though, for we’re here to shed light on these tricky spellings so you can feel confident using them. Check out our guide below on each term and how to remember which is which.
Let’s start with the less commonly understood of the two: its. This word is a possessive pronoun, much like his, her, and their. It denotes ownership or belonging to something.
The catch is, unlike other possessive words that use an apostrophe combined with an s (e.g., Mary’s book or the tree’s leaves), its doesn’t use an apostrophe.
When you want to show that something belongs to something, use its. This can apply to any type of noun except for a person, in which case you’d use their name or pronouns such as his, hers, or their.
Here are some examples of using its to show possession:
Like possession, use its to describe a characteristic or quality of something:
Now, let’s delve into it’s, the contraction that sometimes confounds even experienced writers. Contractions are words that combine two words into one by using an apostrophe to denote where the missing letters are.
It’s is a contraction that combines it with is or has. Here are some examples:
If you’re considering using it’s in your writing, keep in mind that contractions aren’t always acceptable. In formal writing, it may be best to stick with the uncontracted version.
Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.
The reason these two spellings often trip us up is that apostrophes are used for both contractions and to show possession. In the case of its vs. it’s, the apostrophe is solely used to create a contraction.
If you’re unsure which spelling to use, read the sentence out loud and try substituting the word with it is or it has. If it works, then it’s is the correct choice. If it doesn’t, then you should use the possessive pronoun its.
To cement your understanding, here’s a quick recap:
Its is used to indicate possession or association and doesn’t have an apostrophe.
It’s is a contraction of it is or it has and uses an apostrophe.
The best way to solidify your grasp of these spellings is through practice. The more you use its and it’s, the more confident you’ll feel. And if you’d like an expert editor to check your work, send it our way! We’ll ensure perfect grammar, spelling, word choice, punctuation, and more. Try our service out for free today.
While you can use its for animals or inanimate objects, when showing possession for people you should always use their, his, or her, depending on their gender.
If it is or it has works in the sentence, then you need an apostrophe to form the contraction it’s.
Δ
3-minute read
Google Docs is a powerful collaborative tool, and mastering its features can significantly enhance your...
2-minute read
If you’re writing about health issues, you might need to reference the Centers for Disease...
5-minute read
Introduction If you’re involved with ecommerce, you’re likely familiar with the often painstaking process of...
Are you interested in learning more about the role of a content editor and the...
4-minute read
Proofreading is important to ensure your writing is clear and concise for your readers. Whether...
Creating presentations can be time-consuming and frustrating. Trying to construct a visually appealing and informative...