Its vs. It’s
Would you like to know the #1 Grammar Error?
Hint: The word involved is small and it’s contained in this sentence.
That’s right: its vs. it’s
Yet the two rules are actually quite easy to remember.
Rule 1: When you mean it is or it has, use an apostrophe.
Examples:
It’s a nice day.
It’s your right to refuse the invitation.
It’s been great getting to know you.
Rule 2: When you are using its as a possessive, don’t use the apostrophe.
Examples:
The cat hurt its paw.
The furniture store celebrated its tenth anniversary.
Note: From what I understand, the possessive was also written it’s until a couple hundred years ago. While I don’t know for certain, it is possible that the apostrophe was dropped in order to parallel possessive personal pronouns like hers, theirs, yours, ours, etc.”
Posted on Thursday, April 12th, 2012, at 5:35 pm
33 Responses to “Its vs. It’s”
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I was taught you don’t write #1. Instead, it should be written No.1. Could you please clarify? Thanks
We were certainly taking liberties there by using the very informal #1 because the proper “The Number One Grammar Error” wouldn’t look as catchy or fit on one line.
Is there a reason behind why there is no apostrophe when “its” is used as a possessive?
I think that part of the confusion is that an apostrophe is normally used as a possessive with a noun or proper noun.
You are correct for nouns but not for pronouns. Our Rule 9 of Apostrophes states “Never use an apostrophe with possessive pronouns: his, hers, its, theirs, ours, yours, whose. They already show possession so they do not require an apostrophe.” If an apostrophe is used, you have the contraction it’s which means “it is.” This is a very common mistake.
Why is it wrong. It’s my pen gets expanded to It is my pen. I don’t see why you can’t have an apostrophe for possessive its.
As I said in my response to Eric of January 27, 2013, “From what I understand, the possessive was also written it’s until a couple hundred years ago. While I don’t know for certain, it is possible that the apostrophe was dropped to parallel possessive personal pronouns like hers, theirs, yours, etc.”
Wasn’t it even more recent than a couple hundred years ago? I remember being surprised by that entry in Merriam Websters’s Dictionary of English Usage.
According to Wikipedia, “The possessive of it was originally it’s, and many people continue to write it this way, though the apostrophe was dropped in the early 1800s and authorities are now unanimous that it’s can be only a contraction of it is or it has. For example, U.S. President Thomas Jefferson used it’s as a possessive in his instructions dated 20 June 1803 to Lewis for his preparations for his great expedition.”
That’s not an example of possession, that’s an example of contraction which you demonstrated by expanding it.
“It’s my pen” has an apostrophe because it is a contraction of “It is my pen”. If your pig has a pen, you could say “It’s its pen”.
I believe “it’s its pen” in a porcine context would only be appropriate when referring to a neutered pig.
Thank you so much! I never knew the difference. This is really helpful because I have to take a test tomorrow in writing mechanics.
I am glad you found it helpful. Good luck on your test!
For the use of an apostrophe in Christopher’s comment, what if the noun ended in an s? Would it be “Mr. Williams’s house”?
Our Rule 2 of Apostrophes says, “Although names ending in s or an s sound are not required to have the second s added in possessive form, it is preferred.”
Mr. Williams’s house is correct.
Jane, thank you so very much for posting this to remind me of the simple rules. I’ve begun writing and editing again lately and this one has driven me batty for not being able to really remember.
Blessings
Char
It’s a pleasure to know that you found our website helpful.
Wow, I now have new respect for my grammar school teachers. I’m 52, not a writer and knew all of those…although it is nice to be reminded of the rules now and then. I do have one question though. I recall being taught something called parsing in Jr. High school. I have never been able to find anything about this though. I have always assumed I remember the name wrong. It was a procedure where each word had multiple layers of definition in a sentence. For example, a word would first be identified as a noun, verb, adjective, adverb, etc.. and then there were additional levels, such as direct object and many, many more. Is this just standard grammar, or is there a specific area of study for this level of detail. I recall that it was very challenging, but rewarding as well.
Thanks in advance.
Parsing is the correct term and you can find loads of information on the internet about this detailed technique for learning grammar. Whereas parsing was generally done orally or using written out explanations, sentence diagramming came later and used a diagram method for learning parts of speech and grammar. As Wikipedia states, “Parsing was formerly central to the teaching of grammar throughout the English-speaking world, and widely regarded as basic to the use and understanding of written language. However the teaching of such techniques is no longer current.”
Did Wiki state a comma splice too?
As Wikipedia states, “Parsing was formerly central to the teaching of grammar throughout the English-speaking world, and widely regarded as basic to the use and understanding of written language. However the teaching of such techniques is no longer current.”
Our Rule 14 of Commas defines a comma splice as “an error caused by joining two strong clauses with only a comma instead of separating the clauses with a conjunction, a semicolon, or a period.” Since the Wikipedia entry does use the conjunction and, it does not contain a comma splice.
Thank you very much – very useful. I also never understood why the possessive for “it” doesn’t require an apostrophe.
From what I understand, the possessive was also written it’s until a couple hundred years ago. While I don’t know for certain, it is possible that the apostrophe was dropped to parallel possessive personal pronouns like hers, theirs, yours, etc.
I think that your reply of Jan. 27, 2013 (or June 22, 2012) adds value to the article, by providing the reason. Perhaps you should edit it in?
As to your Rule 2 of Apostrophes’ suggestion, that “Kansas’s statute” be preferred to “Kansas’ statute”, I disagree. Not only is my mother with me on this, but so is the U.S. Supreme Court (Kansas v. Marsh, 2006). Justice Clarence Thomas wrote the majority opinion, leaving off the extra “s”; Justice David Souter wrote the dissenting opinion, wishing to add it on.
Thank you for your suggestion to elaborate on the grammar tip “Its vs. It’s”; we may very well do that. However, I stand firmly behind my Apostrophes, Rule 2 Note, which reads “Although names ending in s or an s sound are not required to have the second s added in possessive form, it is preferred.” The Chicago Manual of Style agrees and includes the specific example Kansas’s legislature. Of course, the U.S. Supreme Court was not making a legal determination regarding apostrophes! You note that one justice left off the final s, one did not. While Supreme Court justices are no doubt very learned persons, they may have their own preferences regarding the nuances of grammar and punctuation.
Is there a reason why it seems that the autocorrect features say “it’s” grammatically incorrect when used as a contraction?
You may want to contact the software company with your question. The only other reason I can think of is that it is suggesting that you consider using it is rather than a contraction in formal writing.
Actually I have noticed the same issue, that the grammar check function in Word consistently gives a correction when I use it’s for the contraction of it is, recommending that I use its. In fact, I searched out this article because I thought maybe the rules had changed and I wasn’t aware! Thanks for the article to confirm that I’m using it’s/its correctly.
Perhaps if enough people contact them about the error they will fix it.
It thought its’ represents the punctuation for showing possession. For example, the dog enjoyed playing with its’ toy. Is this incorrect?
As our Rule 2 above states, “When you are using its as a possessive, don’t use the apostrophe.” The word it’s is the contraction for it is or it has. Its’ is grammatically incorrect since the word it is always singular.
The dog enjoyed playing with its toy.
So there is no such word as “its’”?
Correct, there is no such word.