Its vs. it's is easily one of the top five written English errors of our time. If you've read Word-wise for a while, you know its/it's confusion is a topic I've addressed before. But it has been a few years, and if my proofing experience is any indication, this usage pair merits an occasional brush-up lesson.

its: (poss. pro./poss. adj.) of or belonging to it. This form is ALWAYS used to indicate possession.
Ex: The dog chased its tail.

it's: (pro. + v.) it + is OR it + has. This form is ALWAYS a contraction. (If you're not sure, read more about contractions.)
Ex: It's [It is] a joy to see you leave, Penelope.
OR
Ex: It's [It has] been torture meeting you, Penelope.

Why is this seemingly simple error so persistent?

While its/it's misuse is sometimes caused by actual misunderstanding of the difference, it is more often a typo, a mistake that happens when... Click here to read the rest of this post at the Sunny Words Blog.

The Sunny Words Blog is authored by VAF member AnnaLisa of Sunny Words Writing Services.


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