Use its (no apostrophe) to show possession (the dog wagged its tail). Use it's (with apostrophe) as a contraction of “it is” or “it has” (it's raining; it's been a while).
The Core Difference
“Its” is a possessive pronoun, just like “his” or “her” — it shows that something belongs to “it”: the company changed its logo.
“It's” is always a contraction: it's = it is or it has: it's cold today, it's been a long day.
- possessive → its (no apostrophe): its tail, its colour
- contraction of “it is/has” → it's (with apostrophe): it's late, it's been raining
Its and It's in Context
The cat licked its paw before falling asleep.
It's almost time to leave for the airport.
The company updated its privacy policy last week.
I think it's going to rain this afternoon.
It's been three years since its last renovation.
Common Mistakes
| Incorrect | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| ✗ the dog wagged it's tail | ✓ the dog wagged its tail | possessive, no apostrophe |
| ✗ its raining outside | ✓ it's raining outside | contraction of it is |
| ✗ the company lost it's biggest client | ✓ the company lost its biggest client | possessive |
| ✗ I think its going to snow | ✓ I think it's going to snow | contraction |
| ✗ the bird built it's nest | ✓ the bird built its nest | possessive |
Replace the word with “it is” or “it has.” If the sentence still makes sense, use it's. If not, use its — possessive pronouns like his and hers never take an apostrophe either.
Related Questions
- Its vs It’s — full confusing-words comparison page with additional examples and exercises.
- All Confusing Words — browse all 300+ word-pair guides.
- All Questions — more quick-answer pages.
- Grammar Quiz — test your knowledge of confusing word pairs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the simplest test for its vs it's?
Replace the word with “it is” or “it has”. If the sentence still makes sense, use “it's”. If it sounds wrong, use “its”.
Why doesn't its take an apostrophe like other possessives?
Possessive pronouns — his, hers, its, theirs, ours, yours — never take an apostrophe. “Its” follows the same pattern as “his” and “hers”.
Is it's ever a possessive form?
No. “It's” is always a contraction, never a possessive. “Belonging to it” is always “its” without an apostrophe.
Can it's mean it has?
Yes. “It's” can contract either “it is” (it's raining) or “it has” (it's been a while).
Why is this one of the most common English typing mistakes?
Because “its” looks like it should follow the normal possessive apostrophe-s rule, and “it's”/“its” sound identical when spoken.
Does the its/it's rule apply to who's and whose too?
Yes. “Whose” is possessive (whose book is this?) and “who's” is a contraction of “who is/has” (who's calling?).
Is there a version of its with an apostrophe that is ever correct?
No. Any apostrophe in “its” always signals the contraction “it's”, never possession.
How do proofreaders catch its/it's mistakes?
They mentally expand every “it's” to “it is” or “it has”. If that sounds wrong, the word should be the possessive “its” instead.
Does the idiom “in its own right” use its or it's?
It uses “its” — the phrase means “on its own merits” and shows possession, so it never takes an apostrophe: the film succeeds in its own right.
Are its and it's pronounced differently?
No, both are pronounced exactly the same way. The only way to tell them apart is by checking whether the sentence needs a possessive or a contraction of “it is/has”.