Common Mistake: Its vs. It's

One of the most common grammatical mistakes people make is confusing the words "its" and "it's." While they may look similar, they have different meanings and uses. Let's take a closer look at each of these words and learn how to use them correctly.

Its

The word "its" is a possessive pronoun, which means it shows ownership or a sense of belonging. It is used to indicate that something belongs to or is associated with a particular thing or animal.

Here are a few examples of how to correctly use "its":

• The company increased its revenue by 10% this year.
• The cat cleaned its paws after playing in the garden.
• The tree lost its leaves in the autumn.

Note that "its" does not have an apostrophe. This is a common mistake, as people often mistakenly use an apostrophe to indicate possession. However, in the case of "its," the possessive form is formed without an apostrophe.

It's

The word "it's" is a contraction of "it is" or "it has." It is used to combine the pronoun "it" with the verb "is" or "has."

Here are a few examples of how to correctly use "it's":

• It's raining heavily outside.
• I can't believe it's already been a year since we met.
• I think it's time for us to leave.

Remember that "it's" always includes an apostrophe, as it represents the omission of letters (in this case, the letters "i" and "h" from "is" or "has").

Linguix Grammar Checker: Linguix Grammar Checker is a useful tool that can help you avoid common grammar mistakes like confusing "its" and "it's." It provides suggestions and corrections for your writing, ensuring that your grammar is accurate and polished.