Common mistakes
Its or it's: a simple possession and contraction guide
The dog wagged its tail. It's excited. The first word shows what belongs to the dog. The second is a shorter form of it is.
Choose its for possession and it's for it is or it has in everyday English sentences.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
its / it's /ɪts/
The short answer
Use its before a noun when something belongs to it. Use it's only when you can expand it to it is or it has.
The phone has lost its signal because it's inside a metal box.
Why it works: Its signal means the signal belonging to the phone. It's inside expands to it is inside.
5 more examples
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The museum changed its opening hours this month.
The opening hours belong to the museum, so its is possessive.
Not this:
It's changingits opening hours this month. What changes: It's means it is. The second its still shows that the hours belong to the museum. -
The printer has finished its job.
Its identifies the job belonging to the printer.
Not this:
It's finishedthe job already. What changes: It's means it has in this sentence. -
The river changed its course after the storm.
The course is the river's course, so the possessive form is needed.
Not this:
It's difficultto cross the river after the storm. What changes: It's means it is before the adjective difficult. -
This app saves its settings automatically.
The settings belong to the app.
Not this:
It's savingthe settings automatically. What changes: It's means it is before the -ing form saving. -
The company updated its website yesterday.
Its connects the website with the company that owns it.
Not this:
It's updatedthe website before the launch. What changes: It's means it has before the past participle updated.
Read the full guide
Use one quick test before you write. Replace it's with it is or it has. If the full phrase works, choose it's. If you need a word before a noun to show possession, choose its.
Use its to show possession
Use its before a noun when the noun belongs to a thing, animal, organisation, or idea. It works like my or their. The apostrophe is not part of this possessive form.
The bicycle has a light on its front wheel.
The front wheel belongs to the bicycle. That relationship is why its is correct.
Expand it's before you use it
It's is a contraction. Read the sentence with it is or it has in its place. If the longer phrase still makes sense, the apostrophe belongs there.
It's late means It is late. It's been noisy means It has been noisy.
It's safer to keep the receipt until the return period ends.
Use the word after it as a clue
A noun often follows its: its name, its shape, its owner. An adjective, a place phrase, or a verb form often follows it's: it's ready, it's near the door, it's working. This clue helps, but the expansion test is more reliable.
The parcel is in its usual place, but it's not ready to collect.
Avoid its' in standard writing
Standard English has no possessive form written as its'. Use its for possession and it's for the contraction. When you proofread, search for its' and correct it.
Correct: The school changed its policy. Incorrect: The school changed it's policy.
The policy belongs to the school, so it needs its. You cannot replace that word with it is.
Check the meaning, then proofread once
You write about a tablet that needs charging. Which form fits before battery, and which form fits before running low?
Write its battery and it's running low. Battery belongs to the tablet. It's running can expand to it is running.
Before you go
Remember this
Choose its for possession before a noun. Choose it's when it can become it is or it has. If neither expansion works, do not add an apostrophe just because the sentence shows possession.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Its or it's: a simple possession and contraction guide"
What is the difference between its and it's?
Its shows that something belongs to a thing, animal, organisation, or idea. It's is a contraction of it is or it has.
The museum changed its opening hours this month.
How can I check whether it's is correct?
Replace it's with it is or it has. If one of those full forms works in the sentence, use it's. If the word needs to show possession before a noun, use its.
It's changing its opening hours this month.
Why does its not have an apostrophe?
Its is a possessive determiner, like your or their. English does not use an apostrophe in these possessive forms. The apostrophe in it's marks the missing letters in a contraction.
The printer has finished its job.
Can it's mean it has?
Yes. Before a past participle, it's can mean it has. For example, you can expand it's improved to it has improved.
It's finished the job already.
Is its' ever correct?
No. Standard English does not use its' for possession. Use its before a noun for possession, or use it's only when it means it is or it has.
The river changed its course after the storm.
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