What is the Difference Between Its and It’s?

Tweet

This is a very common mistake made by fledgeling writers and is very easily corrected. First, you need to understand what a contraction is. A contraction is the combining of two words into one by removing one or more letters and replacing the missing letter(s) with an apostrophe:

– Did not changes to didn’t.

– They are changes to they’re.

– It is changes to it’s.

In a contraction, the apostrophe replaces the letter(s) that were removed. When using its or it’s in your writing, ask yourself one simple question: can I use it is in the sentence and have it still make sense?

– A chipmunk stores nuts in its cheeks.

Would this sentence make sense substituting it is for its in the following way:

– A chipmunk stores nuts in it is cheeks.

This sentence isn’t grammatically sound, therefore using the contraction of it is – it’s would not be appropriate.

Another point of confusion occurs because people use an apostrophe s to describe something as belonging to someone.

– Katrina‘s leg was sore from being kicked.

If you are using the its without the apostrophe, you are likely using it to describe one thing as belonging to another and it would seem to make sense that if something is belonging to something else, we would apply the apostrophe s rule. This is not the case with its.

– A chipmunk stores nuts in its cheeks.

Do not use an apostrophe s in this case, even though the nuts belong to the chipmunk because it is could not be substituted in this sentence and still make sense, however, to complicate matters, if the nuts in question were to belong to a person and you were using their proper name, you would need to use the apostrophe s rule.

– All of Katrina‘s acorns fit into her mouth.

In summary, it’s replaces it is and its is used to denote something belonging to something else.

For more grammar follies, visit The Oatmeal.