Its vs. It’s: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on January 22, 2024
"Its" is a possessive adjective indicating belonging to it, while "It’s" is a contraction for "it is" or "it has".
Key Differences
Its and It’s are commonly confused terms in English, yet they have distinct uses. Its is a possessive adjective, used to indicate that something belongs to or is a part of something else. For example, "The dog wagged its tail" shows that the tail belongs to the dog. On the other hand, It’s is a contraction, combining the words "it is" or "it has". An example is "It’s raining," where "It’s" stands for "it is".
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 22, 2024
In grammar, Its plays a role similar to possessive pronouns like 'his' or 'her'. It does not have an apostrophe because it already denotes possession. For instance, in the sentence "The company increased its revenue," Its indicates that the revenue belongs to the company. Conversely, It’s is used for simplifying sentences, replacing "it is" or "it has". An example would be "It’s been a long day," where "It’s" means "it has".
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 22, 2024
Misusing Its and It’s can change the meaning of a sentence. Its is solely possessive, not to be used as a contraction. For instance, "The phone lost its charge" correctly uses Its to show the phone owns the charge. In contrast, It’s should never be used to show possession. "It’s color is red" is incorrect; it should be "Its color is red."
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 22, 2024
Understanding when to use Its and It’s is crucial for clear communication. Its shows ownership, as in "The car has its own parking spot." It’s is used for abbreviations, like in "It’s a beautiful day," where "It’s" stands for "it is". Mixing up these two can lead to confusion in written English.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 22, 2024
Comparison Chart
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Its and It's Definitions
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Its
Indicates a characteristic of something.
The computer has its own software.
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Jan 06, 2024
Its
Used as a modifier before a noun
The airline canceled its early flight to New York.
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Jan 05, 2024
It's
Used as a modifier before a noun
The airline canceled its early flight to New York.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 05, 2024
Repeatedly Asked Queries
When should I use 'Its'?
Use 'Its' when indicating possession, as in "The bird flapped its wings."
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 22, 2024
What does 'It’s' stand for?
'It’s' is a contraction for 'it is' or 'it has', like in "It’s a nice day."
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 22, 2024
How can I remember the difference between 'Its' and 'It’s'?
Remember that 'It’s' has an apostrophe for the contraction of 'it is' or 'it has', while 'Its' is for possession.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 22, 2024
Is 'Its' ever used as a contraction?
No, 'Its' is never used as a contraction, only as a possessive adjective.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 22, 2024
Can 'It’s' be used to show possession?
No, 'It’s' cannot be used for possession; use 'Its' instead.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 22, 2024
Can 'It’s' start a sentence?
Yes, 'It’s' can start a sentence, like "It’s amazing."
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 22, 2024
Is there a possessive form for "it" like other nouns?
Yes, "its" is the possessive form for "it."
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 22, 2024
Can "it's" be used in formal writing?
Yes, "it's" is acceptable in formal writing when used appropriately.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 22, 2024
Is 'Its' used for living things?
'Its' is typically used for animals or objects, not humans.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 22, 2024
Can "its" be used for living things too?
Yes, "its" can be used for both living and non-living things to show possession.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 22, 2024
Is "it's" the only contraction of "it is" or "it has"?
Yes, "it's" is the standard contraction for both meanings.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 22, 2024
Is "it's" a homophone of "its"?
Yes, "it's" and "its" are homophones, but they have different meanings.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 22, 2024
How can I remember the difference between "its" and "it's"?
Think of "it's" as a shorter form of "it is" or "it has."
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 22, 2024
Can "its" be used with apostrophes in any context?
No, "its" should never have an apostrophe.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 22, 2024
What is the role of punctuation in distinguishing "its" and "it's"?
The presence or absence of the apostrophe is crucial for distinguishing them.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 22, 2024
Is it acceptable to interchange "its" and "it's" in writing?
No, it is not acceptable, as they have distinct meanings and usage rules.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 22, 2024
Is "it's" ever used to indicate ownership in informal language?
No, "it's" should not be used to indicate ownership in any context.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 22, 2024
What is the plural form of "its"?
"Its" remains the same in both singular and plural forms.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 22, 2024
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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