Before I begin, let me just say that I know I’m not an authority on all things grammatical. So here’s an open invitation to correct my grammar:
On to the lesson: It’s vs. Its
It’s is a contraction, meaning it is.
Its is possessive, meaning something belonging to it.
So you would write:
Have you seen the officiant? It’s an Elvis impersonator!
sourceIt’s is a contraction, meaning it is.
Its is possessive, meaning something belonging to it.
So you would write:
Have you seen the officiant? It’s an Elvis impersonator!
And you would also write:
Carrie’s headpiece featured its own bird!
source
But you would NOT write:
At MacGyver’s wedding, each table had it’s own centerpiece made from paperclips and chewing gum.
source
Happy Monday!
2 comments:
Came across your site via Snippet & Ink. Love it!
My mom's an author so I've grown up with a skosh of OCD when it comes to grammar - and the it's/its error is EVERYWHERE!
One small addition to your rule: it's can also be a contraction of "it has," as in "It's been a long time."
Ta-daaaah!
wiggs-n-dave! Thanks for your excellent comment. I love talkin' with other OCD grammarians.
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