Quick Verdict: Is “Its'” a Word?
No, “Its'” (with the apostrophe at the end) does not exist in the English language. It is a common misspelling. You should never use it.
The word Its’ is a ghost in the English grammar world; it looks like it should exist, but it doesn’t. Many writers accidentally create this error because they know that possessive words often end with an apostrophe. However, the rules for pronouns are different from standard nouns. Standard English only accepts two forms: Its (without an apostrophe) and It’s (with an apostrophe before the s). Understanding the specific job of each word will ensure you never make this typo again.
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Why “Its'” Is Always Incorrect
You might wonder why Its’ feels like it could be correct. The confusion comes from a logical place. In English, we usually show possession for plural nouns by adding an apostrophe after the “s”. For example, “the dogs’ bones” refers to bones belonging to multiple dogs.
However, it is a pronoun, not a regular noun. Pronouns have their own special possessive forms that never use apostrophes. Think about words like his, hers, ours, and yours. None of them have an apostrophe. Its follows this exact same rule.
Source-1✅
When to Use “Its” (No Apostrophe)
Use Its when you want to show ownership or possession. This is the neuter version of “his” or “her”. It describes something belonging to an animal, object, or idea.
- The company updated its policy. (The policy belonging to the company)
- The dog chased its tail. (The tail belonging to the dog)
- History has its own way of repeating itself.
If you can replace the word with “his” or “her” and the sentence still makes grammatical sense (even if it sounds a bit odd), then Its is the correct choice.
When to Use “It’s” (Apostrophe Before S)
The form It’s is strictly a contraction. The apostrophe stands in for missing letters. It always expands to either “It is” or “It has”.
| Example with “It’s” | Expanded Meaning |
|---|---|
| It’s a beautiful day. | It is a beautiful day. |
| It’s been a long time. | It has been a long time. |
| I think it’s broken. | I think it is broken. |
The “His” vs. “It Is” Test
If you are typing fast and get stuck, use this simple substitution trick to find the right spelling immediately. This method works 100% of the time.
How to Test Your Sentence
Step 1: Try to replace the word with “It is”.
- If it makes sense → Use It’s.
- If it sounds nonsense → Go to Step 2.
Step 2: Try to replace the word with “His”.
- If it fits grammatically → Use Its.
Remember: Its’ is never the answer.
Quick Comparison Chart
This table summarizes the differences so you can visualize why the error occurs.
| Word | Type | Correct? | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Its | Possessive Pronoun | Yes | Belonging to it |
| It’s | Contraction | Yes | It is / It has |
| Its’ | Misspelling | No | Does not exist |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “its'” ever correct in English?
No, “its'” with the apostrophe at the end is never correct. It is a common misspelling. The correct possessive form is “its” (without an apostrophe), and the contraction is “it’s”.
Why doesn’t the possessive “its” have an apostrophe?
“It” is a pronoun, not a noun. Possessive pronouns like his, hers, yours, and ours do not use apostrophes. “Its” follows this same rule for pronouns.
How do I show possession for a group of things using “it”?
If you are referring to a plural noun, you would use “their” or “theirs”, not “its”. For example, “The cars lost their wheels,” not “its wheels.” “Its” is only for singular possession.
What is the difference between “it’s” and “its”?
“It’s” is short for “it is” or “it has” (e.g., “It’s cold”). “Its” indicates ownership (e.g., “The cat hurt its leg”).
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