Its vs It’s: Meaning, Rules, Differences, and Examples 

Article Summary

• Its vs it’s represents a common grammar confusion involving possession and contraction, where its is a possessive word showing ownership, while it’s is a contraction of it is or it has, and the apostrophe never indicates possession.
• Correct usage of its vs it’s depends on meaning and sentence structure, as its is used for belonging without an apostrophe, while it’s should only be used when the sentence clearly expands to it is or it has.
• Common mistakes with its vs it’s often stem from apostrophe misuse, but learners can avoid errors by applying the expansion test, checking for ownership, and remembering that possessive pronouns like its, his, her, and their never use apostrophes.

Its vs It’s is one of the most commonly confused grammar topics in English, particularly among IELTS aspirants and non-native speakers. Although these two words sound exactly the same, they have entirely different meanings and grammatical roles, which often leads to frequent mistakes in writing. Even fluent English speakers often mix them up in essays, emails, exams, and social media posts, making this error one of the most widespread in everyday and academic English. Understanding the correct use of its (a possessive form) and it’s (a contraction of it is or it has) is essential for improving grammatical accuracy, clarity, and confidence in communication.

Mastering this difference between Its vs It’s is especially useful for exam preparation, as incorrect usage can negatively impact scores in tests like IELTS, where grammar is closely assessed. In this blog, we provide a clear explanation of the meaning, rules, key differences, and practical examples of its vs it’s, along with helpful tips to avoid common mistakes and use these words correctly in both exams and real-life writing.

What Is the Meaning of “Its”?

“Its” is a possessive word used to show that something belongs to or is related to “it.” It does not use an apostrophe. In simple words, ‘its’ is used to show ownership, just like his, her, or their.

Examples:

• The company updated its policies last year.
• The smartphone lost its charging cable.
• Every country has its own education system.
• The machine stopped working because its parts were damaged.

In each sentence, ‘its’ shows that something belongs to an object, organisation, or idea.

Important point: Even though many possessive forms use an apostrophe, ‘its’ never takes an apostrophe, and this rule is especially important in exams like IELTS and other competitive tests.

What Is the Meaning of “It’s”?

“It’s” is a contraction, which means it is a shorter form of “it is” or “it has”. The apostrophe is used to replace the missing letters.

You should use it’s when the sentence still makes sense after replacing it with it is or it has.

Examples:

• It’s a beautiful day outside. (It is a beautiful day)
• It’s raining heavily this morning. (It is raining)
• It’s been a long time since we last met. (It has been a long time)
• It’s difficult to learn a new skill at first. (It is difficult)

Important point: It’s never shows possession. If you are talking about ownership or belonging, the correct word is its, not it’s.

Also Read: First, Second and Third Person Pronouns: A Simple Guide

Difference Between Its vs It’s

The main difference between its and it’s lies in their meaning and grammatical use. Although they sound the same, they are used in completely different situations.

• Its is a possessive word. It shows that something belongs to or is related to “it.”
• It’s is a contraction. It is a short form of “it is” or “it has.”

The table below clearly explains the difference between its and it’s:

Its	It’s
Possessive word	Contraction
Shows ownership or belonging	Short form of it is or it has
Does not use an apostrophe	Always uses an apostrophe
Answers the question “Whose?”	Answers “What is?” or “What has?”
Used in both formal and informal writing	Mostly used in informal writing
Example: The company changed its policy	Example: It’s important to follow rules

When to use Its vs It’s?

The confusion between its vs it’s mainly comes from the apostrophe. In English, apostrophes often show possession (for example, Kyle’s car), so many writers assume the same rule applies here. However, possessive pronouns never use apostrophes – words like our, her, his, their, and its follow this rule.

Use its when you want to show ownership or belonging.

• The laptop was too large for its case.

 In this sentence, its shows that the case belongs to the laptop. While the laptop’s case would also be correct, repeating the noun can sound unnecessary and awkward.

Use it’s when you want a shorter form of “it is” or “it has.”

• It’s been five years since I started my freelancing business.

 Here, it’s can easily be replaced with it has without changing the meaning. Using it’s often gives writing a more natural and conversational tone.

How to Decide Between Its and It’s?

Deciding whether to use its or it’s can be simple if you follow a few clear rules. These easy steps will help you choose the correct form every time and avoid common grammar mistakes.

1. Try the Expansion Test

Replace the word with “it is” or “it has.”

• If the sentence still makes sense, use it’s
• If it does not make sense, use its

Example:

• It’s getting late. → It is getting late (Correct)
• The company revised its strategy. → It is strategy (Incorrect)

2. Check for Ownership or Belonging

Ask yourself: Is the sentence showing that something belongs to “it”?

• If yes, use its
• If no, use it’s

Example:

• The phone lost its charger. (The charger belongs to the phone)

3. Remember the Apostrophe Rule

An apostrophe in it’s is used to replace missing letters, not to show possession.
Possessive words like his, her, their, and its never use apostrophes.

Also Read: Emphatic Pronouns: Definition, Functions, Examples

Common Examples of Its vs It’s

Seeing its and it’s used in real sentences makes the difference much clearer. Below are some common and easy-to-understand examples showing how each word is correctly used.

Sentences Using “Its”

• The organisation revised its long-term strategy to remain competitive.
• The software updated its security features after the breach.
• The government focused on its responsibility toward sustainable development.
• The research study highlighted its limitations alongside the findings.

Sentences Using “It’s”

• It’s essential to consider long-term effects before making decisions.
• It’s becoming increasingly difficult to balance work and personal life.
• It’s been widely accepted that climate change is a global issue.
• It’s important to analyse both advantages and disadvantages carefully.

Tip: If the sentence talks about ownership or belonging, use its. If it can be expanded to it is or it has, use it’s.

Why Does “Its” Has No Apostrophe?

Many people assume that apostrophes are always used to show possession in English, but this rule does not apply to possessive pronouns. “Its” is a possessive pronoun, which is why it does not use an apostrophe.

In English, possessive pronouns show ownership without apostrophes, such as his, her, their, our, and its. The word its follows the same pattern.

Examples:

• his book
• her bag
• their house
• its purpose

Using an apostrophe in it’s does not show possession. Instead, it’s is a contraction that means “it is” or “it has.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid Using Its vs It’s

The table below highlights some of the most common mistakes people make when using its and it’s, along with the correct forms and explanations.

Common Mistake	Incorrect Sentence	Correct Sentence	Explanation
Using it’s to show possession	The company changed it’s policy.	The company changed its policy.	Possession is shown by its, not it’s
Using its instead of it is	Its important to stay focused.	It’s important to stay focused.	The sentence means it is
Using its instead of it has	Its been a long day.	It’s been a long day.	The sentence means it has
Using its’	The dog hurt its’ leg.	The dog hurt its leg.	Its’ is always incorrect
Forgetting the contraction rule	The weather is cold because its winter.	The weather is cold because it’s winter.	The sentence means it is

Also Read: Subject-Verb Agreement: 12 Rules & Examples

Practice Exercise for Its vs It’s

Try these exercises to test your understanding of its and it’s. Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in each blank with its or it’s.

1. The company changed ___ business strategy last year.
2. ___ important to manage time effectively.
3. The phone stopped working because ___ battery was damaged.
4. ___ been proven that regular exercise improves health.
5. Every organisation must follow ___ internal guidelines.
6. ___ getting harder to balance work and personal life.
7. The dog hurt ___ paw while running.
8. ___ a good idea to revise grammar rules regularly.

Answer Key

1. its
2. it’s
3. its
4. it’s
5. its
6. it’s
7. its
8. it’s

Exercise 2: Identify the Error

Each sentence below has an error. Rewrite the sentence correctly.

1. Its important to read the instructions carefully.
2. The company improved it’s customer service.
3. Its been a long journey for the team.
4. The machine stopped because it’s parts were damaged.

Answer Key

1. It’s important to read the instructions carefully.
2. The company improved its customer service.
3. It’s been a long journey for the team.
4. The machine stopped because its parts were damaged.

Exercise 3: Choose the Correct Option

Select the correct word.

1. The organisation reviewed (its / it’s) long-term goals.
2. (Its / It’s) essential to maintain consistency in writing.
3. The laptop overheated due to (its / it’s) faulty design.
4. (Its / It’s) been reported that pollution levels are rising.

Answer Key

1. its
2. it’s
3. its
4. It’s

Also Read: What is the Difference Between Nouns and Pronouns?

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