"Its" and "It's": What's the Difference?
Many English words sound the same, and when you're speaking, you can often ignore their similarities. But when you're writing, it's important to know what separates one word from another — and how to use each properly.
For example, even native English speakers struggle with the difference between "it's" and "its," so if you're an English student, don't feel bad if you also find it difficult!
Luckily, even though this mistake is simple to make, it's also simple to fix. This article will explain both of these words and the correct ways to use them.
The Importance of Apostrophes
The most important thing to remember when comparing these two words is the apostrophe and what it is used for.
Apostrophes have two functions:
- To show possession
- To show that a letter or letters have been omitted (not included)
Here are some examples of the first function.
Those are Jeff's boots.
= Those boots belong to Jeff.
That's the CEO's private jet.
= That jet belongs to the CEO.
The second function happens in contractions.
- She's my childhood friend.
The apostrophe here shows that "she's" is short for "she is." The I in "is" has been omitted.
- We can't go to the meeting today.
Here, "can't" is short for "can not."
However, things are a bit different when it comes to "it's" and "its."
The Difference Between “Its” and “It’s”
One reason it is easy to confuse these two words is because they break one of the rules we mentioned above.
Its
Unlike what was mentioned earlier, "its" (with no apostrophe) indicates possession or relation. However, it is generally used for non-living things.
The university held a celebration for its 100th anniversary.
= the university's anniversary
When Jane dropped her phone, its screen broke into many small pieces.
= the phone's screen
I grabbed the suitcase by its handle and placed it in the car.
= the suitcase's handle
One big exception, however, is for children or animals whose sex is unknown.
The baby cried out for its mother.
= the baby's mother
The bird flew quickly back to its nest.
= the bird's nest
It’s
"It's" is simply a shorter version of "it is."
The forecast said it's going to snow today.
= It is going to snow
It's 5 o'clock. They were supposed to be here an hour ago.
= It is 5 o'clock
Our food delivery was delayed, but it's coming now.
= The food is coming
It can also be a contraction of "it has."
It's been five years since we last met.
= It has been
The stock price was stable yesterday, but it's fallen by more than 10% today.
= It has fallen
Wrap-Up
When writing in English, it's important to take extra care when you want to use either "its" or "it's."
Unlike the normal usage, an apostrophe in this case does not show possession; instead, it is simply a shorter form of "it is" or "it has." Once you can remember that, using either should be easy.
If you'd like help with your English writing, or if you would prefer to practice in a friendly conversation, book a lesson with an Engoo tutor!
