- The difference between its and it’s comes down to function: its shows possession, while it’s is a contraction of it is or it has.
- Its is the possessive form of it, used to show that something belongs to or is associated with something else.
- It’s is a contraction that combines it is or it has, with the apostrophe replacing the missing letters.
- To choose the right word, use the substitution trick—if you can replace it with it is or it has, use it’s; if not, use its.
- Avoid common mistakes, like using it’s to show possession or adding an apostrophe to its just because it “looks right.”
Have you ever mixed up its and it’s and then realized you don’t know for certain when the apostrophe is needed and when it’s not? Don’t worry—you’re not alone.
These two tiny, three-letter words are among the most commonly confused words in the written English language, even for native English speakers. That’s because the two words are pronounced the same way and have the same base pronoun (it) at the root of their spellings. But the simple addition of an apostrophe changes the word’s meaning entirely.
Here, we’ll explain the difference between its and it’s with clear rules, examples, and tips to help you use them confidently.
Table of contents
The difference between its and it’s
Common mistakes with its and it’s
The difference between its and it’s
To distinguish between its and it’s, determine whether the word is a possessive pronoun or a contraction. Once you’ve identified this, you can easily recognize which version you should be using.
- Its (without an apostrophe) is a possessive pronoun, like his or her, for nouns that don’t have a defined gender.
- It’s (with an apostrophe) is the shortened form, or contraction, of it is or it has.
If you can substitute either it is or it has for it’s in a sentence, then you’re using it correctly. Otherwise, the correct word is its, as long as it signals ownership of whatever noun comes after it.
What does its mean?
Its is the possessive form of it and denotes ownership of or belonging.
The word its is often used in reference to something owned by a person or thing previously mentioned in the sentence, such as:
- The video game challenges its players to beat the Ice Queen.
In this case, its is a stand-in for video game.
The word its can also be used in reference to a noun without a defined gender, such as:
- The cat hissed when the dog stole its catnip.
The rule to remember is that if you’re describing ownership, you use its rather than it’s. Keep in mind that a noun (the thing that’s owned by it) must follow its, such as: its color palette or its charging station.
What does it’s mean?
It’s is a contraction that means it is or it has.
Like in where’s or there’s (contractions of where is and there is), the apostrophe signals that two words have been combined. Remember, any time you use it’s, you must be able to substitute either it is or it has in the word’s place.
The rule to remember is that the apostrophe in it’s means that part of a word has been removed (in the case of it’s, the i in is or the ha in has have been dropped).
When to use its or it’s
The choice between its and it’s depends on the apostrophe.
The apostrophe is the leading cause of confusion between the two words. Usually, the presence of an apostrophe indicates possession, such as: Kyle’s car broke down last week. But English does not use apostrophes when denoting possession in personal pronouns like our, her, his, their, and its.
Choose its when you want to ascribe ownership to something, such as:
- The laptop was too large for its case.
In this example, the word its indicates that the case belongs to the laptop. (You could also correctly say, “The laptop was too large for the laptop’s case,” but this sounds clunky and repetitive.)
In contrast, opt for it’s as a shorter version of it is or it has, as in:
- It’s been five years since I started my freelancing business.
In this example, you could readily use It has instead of It’s without altering the meaning. Using it’s rather than it is or it has also lends a less formal, more conversational tone to writing and conversation.
Its vs. it’s examples
Let’s take a look at some examples of its and it’s.
Examples of its
- A car is no good without its wheels.
- The bride-to-be loved the fit of the dress, but not its texture.
- Even though the house was run-down, it still had its charms.
- The dragon destroyed the village with its fire-breathing ferocity.
Examples of it’s
- It’s not your fault if she doesn’t show up to the meeting on time.
- He misplaced the dog’s leash, but he thinks it’s in his car.
- Mom doesn’t think it’s a good idea for Loren to spend all his money on sneakers.
- It’s been almost three months since Martha saw Fred.
Examples of its and it’s in the same sentence
- The cat licks its paw because it’s trying to clean itself.
- The company updated its website, and now it’s faster and easier to navigate.
- Although the robot lost its balance, it’s still functioning properly.
- The movie has its flaws, but it’s still worth watching.
- The tree shed its leaves early this year because it’s been unusually cold.
Common mistakes with its and it’s
Even seasoned writers can trip up on these two tiny words. Here are some common mistakes people make and how to fix them.
1 Using it’s when you mean its (possessive)
Why? You’re showing possession—the profits belong to the company. So, no apostrophe is needed.
2 Using its when you mean it’s (contraction)
Why? You’re trying to say it is a beautiful day. In this case, you’re using a contraction that combines it and is. The apostrophe replaces the missing letter i in is, which is why you need it’s, not its.
3 Adding an apostrophe to its because it “looks right”
Why? Its is a possessive pronoun, just like his, hers, and ours. In English, possessive pronouns never use apostrophes. So, even though it’s might “look right” because we usually use apostrophes to show possession, that rule doesn’t apply to pronouns.
Its vs. it’s FAQs
What’s the meaning of its?
Its is the possessive form of it and denotes ownership of or belonging to. Similar to his or her, its is often used in reference to something owned by a noun previously mentioned in the sentence.
What’s the meaning of it’s?
It’s is a contraction meaning it is or it has. Similar to there’s or where’s, the apostrophe in it’s signals that two words have been combined into a shortened version.
When should you use its vs. it’s?
When you want to ascribe ownership of something, use its with no apostrophe, like in this example: The diary was concealed in its hiding place. Use it’s with an apostrophe in place of it is or it has, like in this example: It’s unfair to assume she’s bad at cooking.
Can you use it’s to show possession?
No, this is a common mistake. Although apostrophes usually signal possession, such as Sarah’s phone, this rule does not apply to possessive pronouns.
- The dog’s bone: possessive noun
- Its bone: possessive pronoun (no apostrophe)
How can you tell if you’re using its or it’s correctly?
Use the substitution test: Try replacing it’s with it is or it has. If the sentence still makes sense, you’re using it’s correctly. If it doesn’t make sense with that substitution, you probably need its instead.
