# "its" v. "it's"
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-v-its/714918
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [March 13, 2015, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-v-its/714918 "2015-03-13T16:29:49Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@OffByOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OffByOne)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2015, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-v-its/714918/1 "2015-03-13T16:29:49Z")
If you do not know how the difference between “its” and “it’s”, just stop using the apostrophe.
Shit! Some people just don’t _deserve_ apostrophes.
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### Author:  [@Nayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nayna)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2015, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-v-its/714918/2 "2015-03-13T16:32:30Z")
But why is a missing apostrophe better than an unnecessary apostrophe?
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2015, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-v-its/714918/3 "2015-03-13T16:39:31Z")
Their they’re, its naught awl sew baaed.
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### Author:  [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2015, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-v-its/714918/4 "2015-03-13T16:40:02Z")
n’m’
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### Author:  [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2015, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-v-its/714918/5 "2015-03-13T16:45:21Z")
> [@Nayna](#):
>
> But why is a missing apostrophe better than an unnecessary apostrophe?
Your right.
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### Author:  [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2015, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-v-its/714918/6 "2015-03-13T16:54:42Z")
“If you do not know how the difference…”
?
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### Author:  [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2015, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-v-its/714918/7 "2015-03-13T16:58:34Z")
Single apostrophe. ’
Married apostrophe. ;
Same sex marriage apostrophe :
Conjoined apostrophes "
Dead apostrophe ,
Opal apostrophe ‘’’
Tinfoil hat apostrophe ^
Apostrophe appreciation week
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### Author:  [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2015, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-v-its/714918/8 "2015-03-13T17:01:44Z")
Naval apostrophe ~
Sphincter apostrophe \*
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### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2015, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-v-its/714918/9 "2015-03-13T17:03:35Z")
> [@RobDog](#):
>
> “If you do not know how the difference…”
>
> ?
**Gaudere** ’s Law strikes again.
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### Author:  [@JcWoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JcWoman)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2015, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-v-its/714918/10 "2015-03-13T17:03:45Z")
Somebody needs to teach this rule to Microsoft Office because its grammar checker always gets it wrong, too. In fact, because it’s one thing that I struggle with too, I’ve really noticed this: Office will complain about my use of it’s so I tell it to correct it to its and it complains then about its. That’s right, it complains about both versions in the same sentence! One of them has to be right!
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### Author:  [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2015, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-v-its/714918/11 "2015-03-13T17:08:51Z")
> [@JcWoman](#):
>
> Somebody needs to teach this rule to Microsoft Office because its grammar checker always gets it wrong, too. In fact, because it’s one thing that I struggle with too, I’ve really noticed this: Office will complain about my use of it’s so I tell it to correct it to its and it complains then about its. That’s right, it complains about both versions in the same sentence! One of them has to be right!
It is.
Works every time. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2015, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-v-its/714918/12 "2015-03-13T17:10:10Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#):
>
> Apostrophe appreciation
It’s the crux of the biscuit!
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### Author:  [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2015, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-v-its/714918/13 "2015-03-13T17:43:25Z")
I see its’s getting the hose again.
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### Author:  [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2015, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-v-its/714918/14 "2015-03-13T17:44:35Z")
> [@JcWoman](#):
>
> Somebody needs to teach this rule to Microsoft Office because its grammar checker always gets it wrong, too. In fact, because it’s one thing that I struggle with too, I’ve really noticed this: Office will complain about my use of it’s so I tell it to correct it to its and it complains then about its. That’s right, it complains about both versions in the same sentence! One of them has to be right!
I don’t use grammar checker because of idiotic problems like this.
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### Author:  [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2015, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-v-its/714918/15 "2015-03-13T17:54:50Z")
[quote=“OffByOne, post:1, topic:714918”]
If you do not know how the difference between “its” and “it’s”, just stop using the apostrophe.
…QUOTE]
This is a silent plea for help. isn’t it?
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### Author:  [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2015, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-v-its/714918/16 "2015-03-13T17:55:17Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#):
>
> It is.
> Works every time. 🙂
Except when you mean the possessive rather than the contraction.
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### Author:  [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2015, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-v-its/714918/17 "2015-03-13T17:56:18Z")
A post trophy?
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### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2015, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-v-its/714918/18 "2015-03-13T20:41:52Z")
> [@RobDog](#):
>
> “If you do not know how the difference…”
>
> ?
Must be a missing apostrophe in there somewhere.
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### Author:  [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2015, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-v-its/714918/19 "2015-03-13T21:20:57Z")
> [@Nayna](#):
>
> But why is a missing apostrophe better than an unnecessary apostrophe?
It is the lesser of two evils. An unnecessary apostrophe gouges as one’s eyeball whereas the missing one merely makes one shake one’s head imperceptibly and move on.
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### Author:  [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2015, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-v-its/714918/20 "2015-03-13T21:43:31Z")
I am going to 'start u’sing an apo’strophe before every letter 'S I type.
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