Confusing words explained
“its” vs “its” — What’s the Difference?
'Its' shows possession; 'it's' means 'it is'. Different words with the same pronunciation.
Key takeaway
Quick Difference: its vs its
'Its' shows possession; 'it's' means 'it is'. Different words with the same pronunciation.
its vs its Side-by-Side Comparison
Meaning of its
A possessive pronoun showing that something belongs to or is connected to a thing or animal.
A word that shows that something belongs to or is connected to a thing.
Use 'its' to show that something belongs to a thing. Example: 'The house has its own garden.' Never use an apostrophe.
- The dog wagged its tail happily.
- The book lost its cover during the accident.
Meaning of its
A possessive pronoun showing that something belongs to or is connected to a thing or animal.
A word that shows that something belongs to or is connected to a thing.
Use 'its' to show that something belongs to a thing. Example: 'The house has its own garden.' Never use an apostrophe.
- The dog wagged its tail happily.
- The book lost its cover during the accident.
Usage Notes & Nuance
its: Essential grammar. Often confused with 'it's' (it is) in writing. Teaching 'its' vs 'it's' is fundamental to English writing education.
its: Essential grammar. Often confused with 'it's' (it is) in writing. Teaching 'its' vs 'it's' is fundamental to English writing education.
How to Remember the Difference
It's = it is/it has (apostrophe replaces a letter); its = belonging to it (like his and hers, no apostrophe).
Common Mistakes with its and its
Mistake with its
Wrong: The cat licked it's paw.
Correct: The cat licked its paw.
'Its' (no apostrophe) shows possession. 'It's' (with apostrophe) means 'it is'.
Mistake with its
Wrong: Each company has it's own rules.
Correct: Each company has its own rules.
Use 'its' without apostrophe for possession. Save apostrophe for 'it is' (it's).
Mistake with its
Wrong: The cat licked it's paw.
Correct: The cat licked its paw.
'Its' (no apostrophe) shows possession. 'It's' (with apostrophe) means 'it is'.
Mistake with its
Wrong: Each company has it's own rules.
Correct: Each company has its own rules.
Use 'its' without apostrophe for possession. Save apostrophe for 'it is' (it's).
Practice Quiz: its or its?
Choose the word that best completes each real example sentence.
Question 1
The dog wagged _____ tail happily.
Question 2
The book lost _____ cover during the accident.
Question 3
Each company maintains _____ own quality standards.
Pick at least one answer, then press Check answers to see how you did.
You scored 0 out of 3
Frequently Asked Questions About its vs its
What’s the difference between “its” and “its”?
'Its' shows possession; 'it's' means 'it is'. Different words with the same pronunciation.
When should I use “its”?
Use 'its' to show that something belongs to a thing. Example: 'The house has its own garden.' Never use an apostrophe.
When should I use “its”?
Use 'its' to show that something belongs to a thing. Example: 'The house has its own garden.' Never use an apostrophe.
How can I remember its vs its?
It's = it is/it has (apostrophe replaces a letter); its = belonging to it (like his and hers, no apostrophe).
Is it “its” or “its” in example sentences?
Use the quiz above to test the pair with real example sentences from the available word data.