Quick answer: It’s means “it is” or “it has” (it’s raining). Its shows possession (the dog wagged its tail).
Why this one is so confusing
Normally an apostrophe shows possession: Sarah’s book, the company’s logo. But possessive pronouns never use apostrophes: his, hers, ours, yours, theirs and its. The apostrophe in “it’s” only ever replaces missing letters.
Examples
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| The company changed it’s name. | The company changed its name. |
| Its a beautiful day. | It’s a beautiful day. |
| Its been a long week. | It’s been a long week. |
The quick test
Replace the word with “it is” or “it has”. If the sentence still works, use “it’s”. If not, use “its”.
Never write its’
“Its’” (apostrophe after the s) is never correct in English.
Related guides
- A lot or alot?Which spelling is correct
- Their, there or they’re?Three words, three meanings
- Your or you’re?Possession vs you are
- Affect or effect?Verb vs noun
Catch this mistake automatically
The SpellMistake grammar checker spots confused words in your writing and fixes them in one click.
Frequently asked questions
Is “its” ever written with an apostrophe for possession?
No. Possessive “its” never has an apostrophe, just like “his” and “hers”.
Does it’s mean it has?
Yes, in sentences like “It’s been fun”, it’s means “it has”.
Can SpellMistake fix its and it’s?
Yes. It flags common its and it’s mix-ups and explains the fix.