Its and it's are the same three letters, and only the apostrophe separates them. Its, without an apostrophe, means belonging to it: the dog and its tail. It's, with an apostrophe, is the short form of it is or it has.
The confusion is natural because possessive nouns take an apostrophe: John's book. But its is a possessive pronoun, like his, hers and ours, and possessive pronouns never take an apostrophe.
This page gives one substitution test, eight examples and 15 sentences. Every answer shows whether you can say it is in the space.
What each word means
its
its (possessive determiner): belonging to it. "The company changed its name." No apostrophe.
it's
it's (contraction): the short form of it is or it has. "It's raining." "It's been a long week."
The rule
Its shows belonging
- Its stands before a noun: its colour, its name, its owner, its tail.
- It is a possessive pronoun, like his, hers, ours and theirs. None of these takes an apostrophe.
- The subject can be an animal, a thing, a company or a place: "The city is proud of its history."
- Never write its'. That spelling does not exist in standard English.
It's is a contraction
- It's = it is: "It's cold outside." The apostrophe replaces the letter i.
- It's = it has: "It's been a long week." Here the apostrophe replaces ha.
- Contractions are common in speech and informal writing. In very formal writing, write it is or it has in full.
- The contraction never shows possession: "the dog and it is tail" is wrong, so the dog and its tail stays apostrophe-free.
The substitution test
- Say the sentence with it is in the space.
- If the sentence sounds correct, write it's with the apostrophe.
- If it sounds wrong, write its without the apostrophe.
- Example: "The cat licked ___ paw." "The cat licked it is paw" fails, so the answer is its.
Traps to watch
- You're welcome and it's a pleasure are contractions; your welcome and its a pleasure are wrong.
- The pattern noun + 's (John's, the dog's) is different from its, because its is a pronoun.
- Autocorrect often adds the apostrophe. Read the sentence after you type it.
- In the phrase in its own way, the possessive pronoun keeps no apostrophe.
How to remember
The trick: If you can say it is, write it's. If you cannot, write its. The apostrophe stands for a missing i.
Examples
- The dog wagged its tail.The tail belongs to the dog, so no apostrophe is needed.
- It's cold outside today.It's is the short form of it is.
- The company changed its name.Its name is a possessive phrase.
- It's been a long week.It's is the short form of it has been.
- The city is proud of its history.Of its history shows possession after a preposition.
- It's important to check your work.It's stands for it is before an adjective.
- The bird built its nest in the tree.The nest belongs to the bird, so its is correct.
- It's my turn to pay.It's is the contraction of it is.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: The cat licked it's paw. Right: The cat licked its paw.
- It is paw does not work, so the possessive its with no apostrophe is needed.
- Wrong: Its raining again. Right: It's raining again.
- The sentence means it is raining, so the contraction needs the apostrophe.
- Wrong: The team won it's first match. Right: The team won its first match.
- The first match belongs to the team, so the possessive its is correct.
- Wrong: Its been a pleasure. Right: It's been a pleasure.
- The sentence means it has been, so the contraction it's is correct.
- Wrong: The school changed it's timetable. Right: The school changed its timetable.
- The timetable belongs to the school, so no apostrophe is used.
Practice drill
Answer all 15 questions. Each answer is marked at once, and the rule is explained under the question.
The dog wagged ___ tail.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. its The tail belongs to the dog, so the possessive its takes no apostrophe.
___ cold outside.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. It's The sentence means it is cold, so the contraction it's is correct.
The company changed ___ name.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. its The name belongs to the company, so the possessive its is correct.
___ been a long day.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. It's The sentence means it has been, so the contraction it's is needed.
The bird built ___ nest.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. its The nest belongs to the bird, so the possessive its has no apostrophe.
___ important to practise.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. It's The sentence means it is important, so it's with the apostrophe is correct.
The school is proud of ___ students.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. its The students belong to the school, so the possessive its is correct.
___ my turn to pay.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. It's The sentence means it is my turn, so the contraction it's is correct.
The cat cleaned ___ fur.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. its The fur belongs to the cat, so the possessive its takes no apostrophe.
___ time to go.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. It's Time to go follows it is, so the contraction it's is correct.
The city lost ___ oldest building.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. its The building belongs to the city, so the possessive its is correct.
I think ___ going to rain.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. it's The sentence means it is going to rain, so the contraction it's is correct.
The tree lost ___ leaves.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. its The leaves belong to the tree, so the possessive its has no apostrophe.
___ never too late to learn.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. It's The sentence means it is never too late, so it's is correct.
The team celebrated ___ victory.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. its The victory belongs to the team, so the possessive its is correct.
Questions learners ask
Why does its not take an apostrophe like John's?
Apostrophes mark two things: contractions and the possessive of nouns. Its is a possessive pronoun, and pronouns such as his, hers, ours and yours never take an apostrophe. John's is a noun, so it follows the noun rule.
Does its' exist?
No. Its' is never correct in standard English. The possessive is its, and the contraction is it's. If you see its', it is an error.
How can I check my writing quickly?
Read the sentence aloud and replace the word with it is. If the sentence still makes sense, use it's. If it sounds wrong, use its. This test works every time, including with it has, because it is and it has share the same short form.
More confusing words
Fun vs funny
Fun is the enjoyment you feel. Funny is what makes you laugh. Funny also means strange.
Desert vs dessert
Desert has one s and means dry land or to leave someone. Dessert has two s’s and is the sweet food after a meal.
Peace vs piece
Peace means calm, quiet and no fighting. Piece means a part or portion of something.
Browse all the confusing word pairs or take the free A1 to C2 level test to find your starting point.