Why Are So Many People Confused Over The Use of Its and It’s?

Should you use its or it’s?

Now its is a pronominal possessive or possessive pronoun meaning that or those belonging to it.

E.g.: The dog is scratching itself furiously as its coat is infested with fleas and lice.

On the other hand, it’s is a contraction for it is or it has.

E.g.: It’s raining means It is raining.

 It’s been three days since I last saw her means It has been three days since I last saw her.

If you use it’s instead of its in the “dog” sentence above, it would read:  The dog is scratching itself furiously as it’s coat is infested with fleas and lice.

It would be interpreted as: The dog is scratching itself furiously as it is coat is infested with fleas and lice.

Somehow the mind is thinking that to make a possessive pronoun you should put an apostrophe and s for it as in e.g. cat’s taste for fresh fish so it should be it’s taste for fresh fish.

This is clearly incorrect and does not make sense.

By the way, I quote from E.B. White – The Elements of Style: “The pronominal possessives hers, its, theirs, yours, and oneself have no apostrophe.”

How to correct or prevent the same mistake from recurring?

When you write, ask yourself the following questions:

• Does it mean that or those belonging to it? Yes, then use its.
• Does it mean it is or it has? Yes, then use it’s.
• At first you must make a conscious effort to correct this as it will probably have become a habit. But gradually with time and practice, you will naturally use the correct one.

Conclusion

Are you one of those people who gets confused over the use of its and it’s?  Well, if you are, I sincerely hope that this short article will be able to help you to realize and correct your mistake and most importantly to never make this mistake again.