Why People Make Mistakes in Using 'Its' and 'It’s'

Correcting minor errors like the misuse of 'its' and 'it’s' can greatly enhance the clarity and professionalism of written communication. Yet, despite the advancement of autocorrect and spell-check tools, many people still find themselves making these mistakes. Why does this happen? And how can we ensure accurate usage in our writing?

Why Native Speakers May Make Mistakes

There are two main reasons why people might confuse 'its' and 'it’s': ignorance and laziness. However, before we dive into these, it's essential to understand what these words actually represent.

1. Contractions and Ownership

It's is a contraction of 'it is' or 'it has,' and it always includes the apostrophe. This apostrophe is crucial because it signifies the absence of a letter. For example, in 'it's,' the apostrophe indicates the omission of the letter 'i' in 'is.'

Its, on the other hand, is used to indicate possession. For example, 'the car's its seat,' meaning 'the car's (own) seat.' The lack of an apostrophe here shows that while it’s a single possessive form, there are no missing letters.

Common Mistakes and Their Solutions

Mistakes in using 'its' and 'it's' often stem from two common issues: a lack of awareness and a tendency to rely on autocorrect. Even those who are aware that 'it’s' represents a contraction can fall for the spell-checker's tricks.

Autocorrect and Spell-Checking

Modern spell-checkers and autocorrect tools can sometimes make matters worse by inserting an apostrophe when it’s not needed. For instance, typing 'its' can trigger an autocorrect change to 'it’s,' leading to confusion. This is why it's crucial to review your work after writing, even if you've used these tools.

In Quora, you have the option to correct typos even after posting. I had to do this myself to ensure the correct usage in this very post!

Forming Contractions Correctly

The rule for forming contractions is straightforward. When two words are joined to form a shorter version, an apostrophe is used to indicate the missing letter. For example, 'don't' is a contraction of 'do not.'

Here is a comprehensive list of contractions and their full forms:

It's - It is/It has We’re - We are We’ve - We have Don’t - Do not Doesn’t - Does not Can’t - Can not Won’t - Will not

Practical Examples to Clarify the Difference

Let's look at some practical examples to better understand the usage of 'its' and 'it’s':

Examples with Contractions

“It’s my book” is correct because we can replace the 'it’s' with 'it is' or 'it has':

    "That book is mine." or "That book has been mine."

Examples with Ownership

"The kitten chased its tail" is correct because 'its' is used to show possession:

    "The kitten chased the cat's tail."

A Quick Summary

The key to avoiding mistakes with 'its' and 'it's' lies in understanding the purpose of each word and applying careful proofreading. Always review your work, and don't rely solely on spell-check tools. If in doubt, consider using contractions or ownership forms to ensure clarity.

By honing your skills in contractions and proofreading, you can enhance the professionalism and clarity of your written communication.