It’s vs. Its — How to Use Them Properly + Examples

It’s common to confuse homophones — words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings. Or should that say “its common to confuse homophones”? 

If you’re not sure when it’s best to use ‘it’s vs. its’ in writing you’re not alone! ‘Its’ and ‘it’s’ are some of the most commonly confused words in grammar.

Learn the difference between ‘it’s’ and ‘its,’ and how to use them properly in this guide. Then, review your writing with the Originality.ai AI Grammar Checker.

The Word ‘It’

According to the Collins Dictionary, the word ‘it’ is in the third person and it’s described as a singular pronoun. That means it can be used instead of a noun in a sentence. 

The pronoun ‘it’ can be used to replace a thing (car), an animal (cow), or an idea (generosity), especially to avoid repetition in a sentence. 

Considering that ‘it’ can be used so widely, the closely related ‘its’ and ‘it’s’ are also very common in English. 

It’s important to know how to employ ‘it’ correctly in writing to avoid confusion.

What Does ‘It’s’ Mean?

As mentioned, homophones are two words that sound the same but have different meanings. This is true for ‘it’s’ versus ‘its’ as well. 

‘It’s’ is a contraction, meaning the apostrophe is standing in for some unspoken and unwritten letters.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary notes that ‘it’s’ can be a contraction of ‘it is’ or ‘it has.’ 

Examples:

• It’s due on the first of the month. (it is)
• I’m sorry, it’s the best we can do. (it is)
• It’s taken nearly a decade for that tree to bear fruit. (it has)

What Is the Definition of ‘Its’?

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, ‘its’ can be a possessive determiner (used before a noun in a sentence to show belonging or a relationship) or a possessive pronoun (replaces a noun).

Typically you use ‘its’ to describe something that belongs to a thing or animal or to describe the relationship between them, as a possessive determiner.

Examples:

• The dog wagged its tail.
• The cat pawed at its owner.
• The little house stood proudly beneath its cedar roof.

However, in certain scenarios, you can also use ‘its’ as a possessive pronoun, typically accompanied by the word ‘own.’

Examples:

• The TV keeps turning on by itself, it seems to have a mind of its own.
• The weather is stormy today, it will clear in its own time.

Examples of When to Use It’s vs. Its

When deciding whether to use ‘its’ or ‘it’s’ in a sentence, try reading the sentence as ‘it is’ or ‘it has.’

• If you can replace ‘its’ with ‘it is,’ use the spelling with an apostrophe ‘it’s’. 
• If it doesn’t make sense with this change, use the possessive determiner ‘its.’

Practice Examples:

• Its payday!
  • Try saying: It is payday!
  • Correct as: It’s payday!
• After Luke lost his shoe last week, Sandra found its match.
  • Try saying: Sandra found it is match.
  • Correct as: Sandra found its match. 
• Alfred’s elementary school closed its doors three years ago.
  • Try saying: The school closed it is doors three years ago.
  • Correct as: The school closed its doors three years ago.
• They said its the biggest park in the city.
  • Try saying: They said it is the biggest park in the city.
  • Correct as: They said it’s the biggest park in the city.

Other Examples:

• It’s the Fourth of July next week!
• Its kittens are in the barn.
• It’s been raining for months now.
• I love summer, it’s the best season for hiking.
• The stapler is never in its place.

Final Thoughts

‘Its’ and ‘it’s’ are commonly mistaken for each other. To help you remember which spelling to use, always try filling in the missing letters from the apostrophe (‘it is’ or ‘it has’). This simple test can help you check if you should use ‘its’ or ‘it’s.’ 

Review your copy with the Originality.ai AI Grammar Checker to catch spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes, and make sure you are using ‘it’s’ and ‘its’ correctly.
Then, read more tips on grammar best practices in our top guides:

• How to Use an Apostrophe + Examples
• Sentence Fragments — A Comprehensive Guide
• Semicolons — How to Use Them Effectively

FAQs

Why are ‘its’ and ‘it’s’ so commonly confused?

‘Its’ and ‘it’s’ are homophones, meaning they sound the same when spoken out loud. This makes it easy to confuse the different spellings when writing ‘its’ or ‘it’s’ in English.

How can you quickly check whether to use ‘its’ or ‘it’s’?

There are a couple of easy ways to check which version of ‘its’ is the grammatically correct spelling for your sentence. One is to try saying ‘it is’ or ‘it has’ instead of ‘its.’ If it makes sense as ‘it is,’ then you need to use the contraction ‘it’s.’ Another way you can improve your grammar quickly is with an online grammar tool such as the Originality.ai Grammar Checker.