It's vs. Its: What's the Difference and How to Use Each Correctly

The difference between it's and its is one of the most common grammar questions in English. Both words are pronounced exactly the same, and the only visual difference is a single apostrophe. That's why even experienced writers mix them up. The good news is that once you understand what each word does, choosing between them becomes straightforward every time.

What Does It's Mean?

It's (with an apostrophe) is a contraction. A contraction is a shortened form of two words joined together, like don't (do not), won't (will not), and isn't (is not). In the same way, it's is a shortened form of either "it is" or "it has."

Use it's whenever you mean "it is" or "it has." Examples:

• It's raining outside. (It is raining outside.)
• It's been a long day. (It has been a long day.)
• It's time to submit the report. (It is time to submit the report.)

What Does Its Mean?

Its (without an apostrophe) is a possessive pronoun. It works the same way as his, her, and their, indicating that something belongs to or is associated with a thing or animal already mentioned.

Use its when you mean "belonging to it." Examples:

• The dog wagged its tail.
• The company revised its policy.
• The report lost its impact after the revisions.

Note that its' with an apostrophe after the word is never correct in standard English. This form does not exist. The possessive is always written as its with no apostrophe at all.

It's vs. Its: The Key Difference

The clearest way to remember the difference is this: in English, apostrophes in contractions show where letters have been removed. It's has an apostrophe because the letter "i" from "is" or the letters "ha" from "has" have been dropped. Its has no apostrophe because it is a possessive pronoun, and possessive pronouns in English never take apostrophes. This is the same reason his, hers, ours, and theirs are all written without apostrophes.

How to Test Which Word to Use

When you're unsure whether to write it's or its, apply the substitution test: replace the word in your sentence with "it is" or "it has" and read it back. If the sentence still makes sense, use it's. If it doesn't, use its.

Here is the test in practice:

• "The dog scratched its leg." Try: "The dog scratched it is leg." That doesn't make sense, so its is correct.
• "The boy said it's fun to laugh." Try: "The boy said it is fun to laugh." That makes sense, so it's is correct.
• "The committee finished its review." Try: "The committee finished it is review." That doesn't make sense, so its is correct.
• "It's been three weeks since the deadline." Try: "It has been three weeks since the deadline." That makes sense, so it's is correct.

Quick Reference: It's vs. Its

Frequently Asked Questions

When do you use "it's" versus "its"?

Use it's (with an apostrophe) when you mean "it is" or "it has." For example: It's time to leave. Use its (without an apostrophe) when you mean "belonging to it." For example: The cat licked its paw. If you can replace the word with "it is" or "it has" and the sentence still makes sense, use it's. If not, use its.

What does "its" mean?

Its without an apostrophe is the possessive form of "it." It indicates that something belongs to or is associated with a thing or animal, for example: its cover, its argument, its conclusion. It works the same way as his or her but is used for things rather than people.

Is "its'" ever correct?

No. Its' with an apostrophe after the word is never correct in standard English. The possessive pronoun is always its with no apostrophe. Only use an apostrophe when you mean the contraction "it is" or "it has," in which case the apostrophe goes between the t and the s: it's.

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