# For Fuck's Sake, "It's" means It Is, "Its" means "belonging to it"! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 14, 2007, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fucks-sake-its-means-it-is-its-means-belonging-to-it/395823 "2007-03-14T00:19:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fucks-sake-its-means-it-is-its-means-belonging-to-it/395823/1 "2007-03-14T00:19:46Z")
Look, I know this is an old complaint, but I’m starting to see this idiotic mistake **by a lot of folks on the SDMB** , many of whom should know better. And I don’t mean just once, but repeatedly, by the same posters over and over. Here, I’ll pick on one, because he made this error about two dozen times in six posts in one thread: > [@Der Trihs](#): > > If they don’t care about the business and it’s effects… For the love of Christ, people. “It’s” means “It is.” It’s a fucking contraction. “It’s going to be a sunny day.” “Its” is a possessive pronoun. It means “belonging to it.” “The car lost its muffler today.” From a second grader this is an understandable error. From an adult whose first language is English it’s inexcusable. Stop it, for fuck’s sake. Lots of posters like to babble about how SDMB regulars are smarter than your average bear. Given the rampant misuse of “it’s” and “its” here recently, I doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fucks-sake-its-means-it-is-its-means-belonging-to-it/395823/2 "2007-03-14T00:21:24Z")
Its rants like this one that make me proud to be a Doper and a member of it’s community. ---
**Author:** ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fucks-sake-its-means-it-is-its-means-belonging-to-it/395823/3 "2007-03-14T00:25:46Z")
I aggree ---
**Author:** ![as\_u\_wish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@as\_u\_wish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/as_u_wish)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fucks-sake-its-means-it-is-its-means-belonging-to-it/395823/4 "2007-03-14T00:28:20Z")
They’re you go. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fucks-sake-its-means-it-is-its-means-belonging-to-it/395823/5 "2007-03-14T00:30:26Z")
It actually took me quite a few years to get _its_ and _it’s_ sorted out. Now I get bugged by improper use too. My method of remembering: We don’t write _hi’s_ nor _her’s_ as a possessive form, so we shouldn’t write _it’s_ as a possessive form. ---
**Author:** ![Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alive_At_Both_Ends)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fucks-sake-its-means-it-is-its-means-belonging-to-it/395823/6 "2007-03-14T00:34:04Z")
[QUOTE=RickJay] “Its” is a possessive pronoun. It means “belonging to it.” “The car lost its muffler today.” [/QUOTE] The problem is that in most cases possessives \*do \*require an apostrophe. “John’s” means “belonging to John”. “The cat’s” means “belonging to the cat”. So it’s not surprising that people think “it’s” should mean “belonging to it”. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fucks-sake-its-means-it-is-its-means-belonging-to-it/395823/7 "2007-03-14T00:34:26Z")
I’m with you fully on bodily mutilating those who screw up its versus it’s. I do have to point out, though, that just because one is fluent in English doesn’t mean one can _write_ English that well. Writing is a learned skill while speech is all but innate. Even so, someone who’s theoretically educated has no business not knowing its versus it’s. Hang 'em. ---
**Author:** ![Charger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df788c/32.png) [@Charger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charger)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fucks-sake-its-means-it-is-its-means-belonging-to-it/395823/8 "2007-03-14T00:36:49Z")
I think this rule has always been confusing since the apostrophe before the “s” usually indicates a possessive noun. For example, when you say “for fuck’s sake,” you mean the sake _which belongs to_ “fuck”. However, if you use the pronoun “it” in place of “fuck,” then the apostrophe must be dropped. “For fuck, and all of its sake.” Being as careful as I like to be about grammar, however, it is quite rare for me to make that mistake. Being aware of the fact that “it’s” is a contraction helps. That being said, we are used to seeing “it is” turned into the contraction “it’s.” Therefore, when you see “it’s,” it doesn’t immediately registers as a wrong word in the way that “her’s” or “hi’s” would. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fucks-sake-its-means-it-is-its-means-belonging-to-it/395823/9 "2007-03-14T00:42:08Z")
Its enough to make you loose your mind. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fucks-sake-its-means-it-is-its-means-belonging-to-it/395823/10 "2007-03-14T01:02:50Z")
It’s happening to other possessive pronouns: our’s, their’s. I’ve also seen verbs get mutated: “Joe get’s the job done.” WTF? It’s like people are blindly attaching apostrophes to any S sound at the end of a word. I was taught that if you automatically convert _it’s_ to “it is” in your head and the sentence still makes sense, then you’ve got the right one: It’s about time she learned to control her bowels. becomes It is about time she learned to control her bowels. (PASS) She put the turtle on it’s shell becomes She puts the turtle on it is shell. (FAIL) ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fucks-sake-its-means-it-is-its-means-belonging-to-it/395823/11 "2007-03-14T01:19:07Z")
It the Apostrophe Virus, and it seems to be spreading. I see otherwise intelligent people sneaking apostrophes into words that don’t even have a possessive form. _The cat see’s the mouse._ I get the feeling that people are thinking, when in doubt sprinkle in some apostrophes. And you can’t correct these people because they’re either (1) your superiors, or (2) the type who would reply “Oh so what/big deal, you obviously knew what I meant!” ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fucks-sake-its-means-it-is-its-means-belonging-to-it/395823/12 "2007-03-14T01:22:24Z")
Alternately, here’s a [memory aid for the visually inclined.](http://www.angryflower.com/bobsqu.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fucks-sake-its-means-it-is-its-means-belonging-to-it/395823/13 "2007-03-14T01:23:21Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] Its enough to make you loose your mind. [/QUOTE] Thats the one that makes me loose mine’s. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fucks-sake-its-means-it-is-its-means-belonging-to-it/395823/14 "2007-03-14T01:24:41Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] We don’t write _hi’s_ nor _her’s_ as a possessive form, so we shouldn’t write _it’s_ as a possessive form. [/QUOTE] we don’t? huh. good two no. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fucks-sake-its-means-it-is-its-means-belonging-to-it/395823/15 "2007-03-14T01:26:01Z")
Don’t feel bad. I know two people who are under the impression that any word ending in ‘s’ requires an apostrophe. If that wouldn’t make you want to kill something, you’re a stronger man than I know how to be. ---
**Author:** ![Baraqiyal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@Baraqiyal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baraqiyal)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fucks-sake-its-means-it-is-its-means-belonging-to-it/395823/16 "2007-03-14T01:28:38Z")
Good, now do one for “I” vs. “Me”. People screw that one up even more than “it’s”, “its” and “you’re”, “your” combined. ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fucks-sake-its-means-it-is-its-means-belonging-to-it/395823/17 "2007-03-14T01:31:01Z")
Apparently the ‘ed’ which used to live at the end of words like ‘iced’ and ‘whipped’ and ‘mashed’ (which are turning into ‘ice’ as in ‘icetea’ and ‘whip’ as in ‘whip cream’ or, ye gods ‘whipcream’, and ‘mash’ as in ‘mash’ potatoes) has been shrunken and tossed, willy-nilly, behind random s’s. Pretty soon, all the ‘ed’ endings will be gone and you’ll s’ee apo’strophe’s every place there i’s an 's. At which point you’ll see me smacking my head against a big, hard, rock because I read it the way I was taught and then realize somebody screwed up again. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fucks-sake-its-means-it-is-its-means-belonging-to-it/395823/18 "2007-03-14T01:33:23Z")
[QUOTE=Eva Luna] Alternately, here’s a [memory aid for the visually inclined.](http://www.angryflower.com/bobsqu.gif) [/QUOTE] I just use Strong Bad’s [song:](http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail89.html) Oh, if you want it to be possessive, it’s just i-t-s, But if it’s supposed to be a contraction, it’s i-t-apostrophe-s. Scalawag. ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fucks-sake-its-means-it-is-its-means-belonging-to-it/395823/19 "2007-03-14T01:34:10Z")
> [@Strong Bad](#): > > I’m only gonna sing this one more time, Ohhhhhh, If you want it to be possessive, it’s just “I-T-S.” But, if it’s supposed to be a contraction then it’s “I-T-apostrophe-S,” scalawag. [You scalawags!](http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail89.html) ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fucks-sake-its-means-it-is-its-means-belonging-to-it/395823/20 "2007-03-14T01:35:20Z")
Darn you **mobo85**! Darn you to heck! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fucks-sake-its-means-it-is-its-means-belonging-to-it/395823.md?page=2)