It’s vs Its

[ALdenteNoodle]

I have googled this vexing subject but it’s not sticking. Would appreciate a simple explanation of when “its” is appropriate. Thanks

 

[29wordsforsnow]

I have googled this vexing subject but it’s not sticking. Would appreciate a simple explanation of when “its” is appropriate. Thanks

It's (=it is) 'its' when you refer to something possesed by some 'it': It's hot inside its shell.

 

[SimonDoom]

"Its" is a possessive pronoun, like "his" or "hers." You don't write "her's" or "he's." And you don't write "it's" for a possessive, either. You use "its" when you indicate that something belongs to "it."

"It's" is a contraction of "it is." You use an apostrophe just as you would for any contraction.

It's a beautiful day.

She's a beauty.

It's the same thing.

 

[AvroAnson]

I ... Would appreciate a simple explanation of when “its” is appropriate. Thanks

I have always felt that "it's" appropriate whenever two or more people think "it's" appropriate.

 

[KeithD]

Substitute in your mind "it is" whenever you can't decide. If "it is" fits the sentence, use "it's". If, not, don't.

 

[TheWorldBuilder]

What is its?

It's (contraction of 'it is') the singular neuter possessive.

His
Hers
Its
Yours
Theirs

 

[Bramblethorn]

"It's" is a contraction of "it is."

Also of "it has", e.g. "It's been one week since you looked at me."

Tangent: I wonder why it is that we only contract "it has" for the past-tense construction, not when "has" is possessive: "watch out for that dog, it has a bad temper".

 

[NotWise]

Also of "it has", e.g. "It's been one week since you looked at me."

Tangent: I wonder why it is that we only contract "it has" for the past-tense construction, not when "has" is possessive: "watch out for that dog, it has a bad temper".

Avoid contractions when the result is ambiguous.

 

[Todger65]

It’s (it is) pretty obvious a snail carries its (possessive) own house around.

 

[SimonDoom]

Also of "it has", e.g. "It's been one week since you looked at me."

Tangent: I wonder why it is that we only contract "it has" for the past-tense construction, not when "has" is possessive: "watch out for that dog, it has a bad temper".

I think NotWise has got it -- if you replace "it has" with "it's" it could be confusing. It might suggest that the dog IS a bad temper rather than that it HAS a bad temper.

 

[RandyD1369]

Actually its is NOT a contraction of anything. That is the whole point of this thread. Its is the possessive of "it." It's is a contraction (shortening) of the phrase it is or it has, that is why you needed the apostrophe--to specify the difference and clarify for the reader which one you meant. The only other possible use of "its" would be if there were multiples of "it" involved that had to be described (example: "Both its were yammering for attention," he said) (it is worth noting that in the case of the example, "it" might well need to be capitalized as a name or title).

 

[AvroAnson]

(example: "Both its were yammering for attention," he said) ...

"'Both of its (subject) were yammering for attention,' he said." Is even clearer.

 

[RandyD1369]

Think about that. If you had two men named John, both trying to talk at the same time, would you write "Both Johns were yammering," or "Both of Johns were yammering"?

In the example used, "its" was the plural of it, not the object of the sentence.

 

[ALdenteNoodle]

Think about that. If you had two men named John, both trying to talk at the same time, would you write "Both Johns were yammering," or "Both of Johns were yammering"?

In the example used, "its" was the plural of it, not the object of the sentence.

Okay this is what I was looking for. Its is the plural form.

 

[ALdenteNoodle]

"'Both of its (subject) were yammering for attention,' he said." Is even clearer.

Okay.. Got it. It's clear.

 

[Athalia]

Historical note: A few centuries ago, "it's" was used as a possessive, the logic being that there were plenty of possessives already using the apostrophic convention. (The farmer's wife, the company's hiring, God's Own Fool) Read a lot of Jefferson or Franklin, and you'll see. But the apostrophe was dropped precisely because that sense was being mistaken for "it's" in the sense of "it is."

It seems, though, that even after a couple of centuries, some people still haven't gotten the word.

 

[SimonDoom]

Okay this is what I was looking for. Its is the plural form.

But only in that particular usage, and it's an unusual way to use "its." The common usage of "its" is as a possessive pronoun.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Actually its is NOT a contraction of anything.

Did anybody say otherwise, though?