Looking for a surefire way to make me cringe? Use its instead of it’s (or vice versa, I’m not partial). Let me introduce you to my friend, the apostrophe – it’s a little symbol, but it makes a huge difference (not unlike the author of this blog… see, you should never underestimate the little folk 
).
A little help: it’s = it is. The apostrophe simply contracts the two. So it’s “It’s your birthday” because it is your birthday (happy birthday, by the way). Its is not unlike his, hers, yours, theirs, ours, etc. in usage. Its is used with objects, also known as nouns:
- A shoe – its sole, its heel, its laces
- A horse – its saddle, its eyes, its rider
- A country – its citizens, its government, its laws
Got it? Whenever you need to figure out whether the correct usage is it’s or its, simply expand the contraction of it’s and see whether it makes sense.
Example: _______ too hot in here.
Is it its or it’s? “It is” too hot in here, so the contracted version it’s is correct. Remember, expand the contraction and fill in the correct form.
Alternatively, you may substitute one of the above pronouns to help you decide. Let’s try filling in the blank with his. Using the same example, “His too hot in here” makes absolutely no sense, so its won’t work either.
Stay tuned for more posts on the apostrophe. And since you’re now an expert on the use of it’s vs. its, click the share button below and help me convert the world!
