Let’s be honest: few grammar gremlins cause as much confusion as its and it’s. They’re small, sneaky, and look nearly identical—like mischievous twins who love swapping places just to watch us panic over an email draft. But don’t worry! By the end of this post, you’ll never confuse them again (and you might even chuckle along the way).
Meet the Twins:
It’s (with the apostrophe)
This one’s short for “it is” or “it has.”
Think of the apostrophe as a little suitcase, holding those missing letters from is or has.
- It’s a beautiful day outside. (→ It is)
- It’s been a long week. (→ It has)
Whenever you see it’s, try stretching it into it is or it has. If the sentence still makes sense, you’ve got the right twin.
Its (without the apostrophe)
This one is a possessive pronoun—it shows ownership. Like his or hers, but for it.
- The cat chased its tail.
- The company changed its logo.
Notice: no apostrophe needed. Think of its as proudly carrying its own stuff without needing extra baggage.
Quick Trick to Remember
- If you can swap in it is or it has, use it’s.
- If you’re talking about something that belongs to “it,” use its.
- If you’re still stuck, imagine a possessive apostrophe is too clingy here—its prefers independence.
Classroom Activity
Create Instagram captions with blank spaces (e.g., ___ a beautiful day!) and ask students to drag/drop or type the correct form.
CCSS
L.5.2d (Use punctuation to separate items and contractions).
Final Thought
If these two still trip you up, don’t sweat it—you’re not alone. Even professional writers sometimes type the wrong twin in a rush. The trick is to slow down, test the sentence, and remember:
- It’s = it is / it has
- Its = possession
And hey—now that you’ve mastered this grammar duo, you can correct your friends’ texts with confidence (or, you know, just silently smile and keep scrolling).
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