its / it's

possessive / contraction/ɪts/ · /ɪts/ 🔊 listen

its and it's are the most confused pair. Quick rule: it's (apostrophe) = it is / it has. its (no apostrophe) = belonging to it. Test: if 'it is' fits, use it's.

📖 Meanings

1it's = it is / it has
"It's raining." — (it is)
2its = belonging to it (possessive)
"The dog wagged its tail." — (possessive)
3Test: if 'it is' fits, use it's
"It's been a long day." — (it has)

🔄 Often confused

its vs it's →your vs you're →then vs than →

💬 Usage tips

it's = it is/has (apostrophe)its = belonging to it (no apostrophe)It's okay
❓ Which is correct? “___ a beautiful day.”