CornerScribe

Grammar Helper: Its vs It’s

Posted by Jo | Filed under Writing Helper

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I see these two words confused all the time, even though they’re very easy to get right.

It’s is a contraction for “it is” or even “it has.”

• It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you. (It has…)
• It’s a mistake to buy that property. (It is…)

Its is a pronoun that means something “belongs to it.”

•  I wouldn’t buy that car; its paint job is awful.
• The dog hurt its foot on its walk last night.

If you’re unsure, simply substitute “it is” or “it has” in the sentence to see which version of its/it’s you have. If the substitution works, then you want the version, it’s. If not, then you want its.

It’s simple, right?

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Comments (4) | July 4, 2007

4 Responses to “Grammar Helper: Its vs It’s”

1. Possessive vs. Plural, Getting it Right-- CornerScribe Says:
   January 27th, 2008 at 7:19 pm

   [...] Who’s vs. WhoseWriting Helper: Just Thinking to MyselfWriting Helper: Poor and Pour, Then and ThanGrammar Helper: Its vs It’sWriting Helper: Breath vs. Breathe, Bath vs. BatheCite, sight and siteWriting Helper: Stationary vs. [...]

2. Andre Frazier Says:
   November 12th, 2008 at 8:33 pm

   yrfk487zwgmcw50u

3. It’s no use « Mark Turner Dot Net Says:
   December 17th, 2008 at 10:56 am

   [...] My exasperatingly-beautiful editor wife has observed my use of “its” as a substitute for “it’s” makes me look foolish (or adds to this appearance, anyway). I replied that I’d once seen official word from the All-High Grammar Police that such use is now acceptable. Now, however, I cannot cite any references for this proclamation, but plenty that say I’m Doing It (or is it it’s?) Wrong. [...]

4. David Says:
   February 15th, 2009 at 4:51 pm

   Hmmmmm I guess my previous comment wasn’t good enough since you DELETED IT.