# Is it ever ok to use "it's" in place of "its"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 23, 2003, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ever-ok-to-use-its-in-place-of-its/183840 "2003-06-23T18:56:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rattlehead02](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rattlehead02/32/3944_2.png) [@Rattlehead02](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rattlehead02)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ever-ok-to-use-its-in-place-of-its/183840/1 "2003-06-23T18:56:28Z")
According to [http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=it's](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=it%27s) : > [@](#): > > it’s > > Its \Its\ Possessive form of the pronoun it. See It. What’s the deal? Am I missing something here? Thanks! P.S. I tried doing a search on this subject, but as you can imagine, I had no luck. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ever-ok-to-use-its-in-place-of-its/183840/2 "2003-06-23T19:00:25Z")
It’s is used as the contraction of “it is”. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ever-ok-to-use-its-in-place-of-its/183840/3 "2003-06-23T19:01:33Z")
D’oh! I see what you’re asking. I think your source is wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ever-ok-to-use-its-in-place-of-its/183840/4 "2003-06-23T19:01:51Z")
No, the reason it’s a bit non-intuitive is because “it’s” is the contraction of “it is.” That’s why the posessive form of “it” has no apostrophe, so they don’t get confused. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ever-ok-to-use-its-in-place-of-its/183840/5 "2003-06-23T19:02:13Z")
The answer to your question is “no”. Not sure what’s confusing you, though. “Its” is possessive. “The dog wagged its tail.” This is different than any other possessive use of the “s” ending in English AFAIK, in that it does not use an apostrophe. Dunno why. “The cat scratched the dog’s tail” is the usual way to write a possessive. “It’s” is a contraction for “it is”. “I hope it’s going to be sunny today.” The uses are not interchangeable. ---
**Author:** ![Rattlehead02](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rattlehead02/32/3944_2.png) [@Rattlehead02](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rattlehead02)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ever-ok-to-use-its-in-place-of-its/183840/6 "2003-06-23T19:06:44Z")
Oh, I’m aware of the difference between “its” and “it’s”…That’s why I’m confused about that link. It shows a definition of “it’s” as the possessive of “it”. I’m just wondering if maybe I misread the site or something. Guess I shoulda clarified. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ever-ok-to-use-its-in-place-of-its/183840/7 "2003-06-23T19:07:10Z")
Oh, sorry, now I see–yes, I think the source is mistaken or being excessively descriptive, I have never seen this waffling from an authoritative source. Some sources are _prescriptive_, meaning they presume to know what’s right and tell you so with authority. Some are _descriptive_, meaning that they just document how people actually talk without drawing a judgement about correctness. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ever-ok-to-use-its-in-place-of-its/183840/8 "2003-06-23T19:07:10Z")
Anyway, I think the online cite is just plain wrong. My 1981 Webster’s on my desk has the definitions everyone has been describing. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ever-ok-to-use-its-in-place-of-its/183840/9 "2003-06-23T19:10:43Z")
OK, the _same source_ says [this](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=it): ## its ( P ) Pronunciation Key (ts) adj. The possessive form of it. Used as a modifier before a noun: The airline canceled its early flight to New York. [Alteration of it’s : it + -'s.] Usage Note: Its is the possessive form of the pronoun it and is correctly written without an apostrophe. It should not be confused with the contraction it’s (for it is or it has), which should always have an apostrophe. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ever-ok-to-use-its-in-place-of-its/183840/10 "2003-06-23T19:11:21Z")
Read the entire definition [Alteration of it’s : it + -'s.] Usage Note: Its is the possessive form of the pronoun it and is correctly written without an apostrophe. It should not be confused with the contraction it’s (for it is or it has), which should always have an apostrophe. The reference is simply that its = it’s exists, not that it is a correct usage. Like the word “ain’t.” ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ever-ok-to-use-its-in-place-of-its/183840/11 "2003-06-23T19:18:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Padeye \* > \*\*No, the reason it’s a bit non-intuitive is because “it’s” is the contraction of “it is.” That’s why the posessive form of “it” has no apostrophe, so they don’t get confused. \*\* That’s not quite correct. The possessive “its” has no apostrophe because it belongs to the class of **possessive pronouns:** mine yours his hers its ours theirs whose . . . **none of which** takes an apostrophe. Remember your possessive pronouns! They are a special group all their own, with different rules from the possessives of common nouns. ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ever-ok-to-use-its-in-place-of-its/183840/12 "2003-06-23T19:32:02Z")
The confusion arises from, I assume, either a misdirected link or an oddity in the search function at [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com). Note that the entry for [“its”](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=its) is identical to the entry for [“it’s”](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=it%27s). The former is the correct page. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ever-ok-to-use-its-in-place-of-its/183840/13 "2003-06-23T19:48:12Z")
Note that “it’s” can be “it is” or “it has” (e.g., it’s been a good day). Scarlett67 makes a very important point. Pronouns are a special case, and **never** use an apostrophe for the possessive. If you don’t normally write “hi’s,” her’s," “our’s,” “your’s,” or “their’s,” there’s no reason to think you should write “it’s” for the possessive of “it.” (If you do normally write those forms, you have a bigger problem.) Of course, the fact that the word “it’s” does exist (where those others I listed do not) can lead to confusion. Think carefully about whether you’re saying “it is,” “it has,” or “belonging to it” to help you choose the correct word. ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ever-ok-to-use-its-in-place-of-its/183840/14 "2003-06-23T19:56:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Scarlett67 \* > \*\*Remember your possessive pronouns! They are a special group all their own, with different rules from the possessives of common nouns. \*\* Except “one’s” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ever-ok-to-use-its-in-place-of-its/183840/15 "2003-06-23T20:23:37Z")
I think **zut** nailed it. Note how the it’s in the “it’s” search result page is replaced by the “its” in the “its” search result page, keeping the definition the same. Maybe the heading **it’s** on the search page for the definition in question is somehow [incorrectly] dynamically created from the search term “it’s” itself. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ever-ok-to-use-its-in-place-of-its/183840/16 "2003-06-24T00:40:39Z")
I checked a few of the online Websters dictionaries, and they do not have an entry for **it’s**. So, the search engine gave back the definition for **its** instead. Awl is write with the whirled. Peas. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ever-ok-to-use-its-in-place-of-its/183840/17 "2003-06-24T00:48:42Z")
I checked a few of the online Websters dictionaries, and they do not have an entry for **it’s**. So, the search engine gave back the definition for **its** instead. Awl is write with the whirled. Peas. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ever-ok-to-use-its-in-place-of-its/183840/18 "2003-06-24T03:02:37Z")
Next we will see hi’s. Anyway, it’s only a question of orthography, not actual speech. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ever-ok-to-use-its-in-place-of-its/183840/19 "2003-06-24T03:16:23Z")
The only time “it’s” is correctly used as a possessive is when it is used as a direct noun or proper noun rather than a pronoun, as in: “Gomez and Morticia enjoyed Cousin It’s visit.” or “It’s place in the dictionary comes between issue and item.” ---
**Author:** ![Moo\_the\_Magic\_Cow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ebca7d/32.png) [@Moo\_the\_Magic\_Cow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moo_the_Magic_Cow)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ever-ok-to-use-its-in-place-of-its/183840/20 "2003-06-24T06:26:33Z")
> [@](#): > > At the risk of giving aid and comfort to the “ungrammarians” among us, however, I must note that the difference between “it’s” and “its” was not always so definite. Until the 19th century, in fact, “it’s” was usually considered the possessive of “it” – in the Fall, a tree shed “it’s” leaves. The usual contraction of “it is” was “'tis.” Only when “'tis” came to be regarded as an archaic form in the 19th century did the use of “it’s” as a contraction of “it is” push out the use of “it’s” as a possessive. [http://www.word-detective.com/back-d.html#its](http://www.word-detective.com/back-d.html#its)