It’s vs. Its

Posted by Administrator on November 30, 2008 in The Word |
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These two little words cause many writers to stumble.

It’s is a contraction of “it is.” That little apostrophe is very important; it tells you that something has been left out—in this case the “i” in “is.”
It is a perfect day for bird-watching. Look—it’s a red-bellied woodpecker!
You could also say,
It’s a perfect day for bird-watching. Look—it is a red-bellied woodpecker!

Its (no apostrophe) is an adjective meaning “of or relating to it or itself.”
The bird is grooming its feathers.
You wouldn’t say (at least I hope you wouldn’t),
The bird is grooming it is feathers.

So, putting everything together,
It is a perfect day for bird-watching. Look—it’s a red-bellied woodpecker grooming its feathers!

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