What Does Its Mean?
Its (no apostrophe) is the possessive form of "it," showing ownership. Like "his" and "her," possessive pronouns do not use apostrophes.
Its functions as a possessive pronoun.
What Does It's Mean?
It's (with an apostrophe) is a contraction of "it is" or "it has." The apostrophe replaces the missing letters.
It's functions as a contraction (it is / it has).
Its vs It's: Key Differences
| Its | It's |
|---|---|
| Possessive (belongs to 'it') | Contraction of 'it is' or 'it has' |
| No apostrophe | Has an apostrophe |
| "The dog wagged its tail" | "It's a beautiful day" |
Examples of Its in a Sentence
- The cat licked its paws after eating.
- The company raised its prices last month.
- The tree lost its leaves in autumn.
- Every country has its own customs.
Examples of It's in a Sentence
- It's raining outside, so bring an umbrella.
- It's been three years since we last met.
- I think it's the best option we have.
- It's important to proofread your work.
How to Remember the Difference
Try replacing the word with "it is" or "it has." If the sentence still makes sense, use it's. If not, use its.
Common Mistakes
| Incorrect | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The dog wagged it's tail. | The dog wagged its tail. | The tail belongs to the dog, so use possessive 'its.' |
| Its going to be a long day. | It's going to be a long day. | 'It is going to be a long day' works, so use the contraction 'it's.' |
| The phone lost it's charge. | The phone lost its charge. | The charge belongs to the phone, so use possessive 'its.' |
If you are unsure which word fits, try Rephrasely's free grammar checker to catch errors instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn't 'its' have an apostrophe for possession?
Possessive pronouns (his, hers, its, ours, theirs) never use apostrophes. Only nouns use apostrophes for possession ("the dog's bone"). 'Its' follows the same pattern as 'his' and 'hers.'
Can 'it's' mean 'it has'?
Yes. 'It's been a while' means 'It has been a while.' The apostrophe can stand for the missing 'ha' in 'has,' just as it stands for the missing 'i' in 'is.'
Is this the most common grammar mistake in English?
Confusing 'its' and 'it's' is one of the most frequent errors, even among experienced writers. The "replace with 'it is'" test is the fastest way to get it right every time.