Its vs. It’s: Difference, Examples, and an Easy Test

Use its without an apostrophe to show possession. Use it’s with an apostrophe as a contraction of it is or it has.

The company changed its policy.
It’s effective immediately. (It is effective immediately.)
It’s received positive feedback. (It has received positive feedback.)

The quickest test is to replace the word with it is or it has. If either expansion works, use it’s. Otherwise, use its when something belongs or relates to “it.”

Its and it’s at a glance

Word	Main job	Meaning	Example
its	possessive determiner	belonging or relating to it	The bird spread its wings.
it’s	contraction	it is or it has	It’s been a busy week.

The apostrophe in it’s signals missing letters. It does not make the word possessive.

When to use its

Its is the possessive form of it. It normally comes before a noun and shows that something belongs to or is associated with an animal, object, place, organization, or idea.

The dog chased its tail.
The phone lost its signal.
The museum updated its website.
Every city has its challenges.
The proposal has its advantages.

The nouns tail, signal, website, challenges, and advantages identify what belongs or relates to the subject.

Its for animals

Use its when referring to an animal whose sex is unknown or unimportant in the context.

The squirrel carried food to its nest.
A butterfly folded its wings.
The horse lowered its head.

Writers may use his or her instead when an animal’s sex is known or when the animal is treated as an individual companion.

Its for organizations and places

Organizations, countries, cities, and other singular entities are often referred to as it in American English.

The university revised its admissions policy.
The restaurant is expanding its menu.
The state increased its education budget.
The committee published its findings.

Its own

Use its own to emphasize that something is separate, distinctive, or independently possessed.

Each department has its own budget.
The device creates its own wireless network.
The neighborhood has its own character.

Do not write it’s own in these sentences. “It is own” and “it has own” do not work.

When to use it’s

It’s is a contraction with two possible expansions: it is and it has.

It’s meaning “it is”

It’s cold outside. (It is cold outside.)
It’s time to leave. (It is time to leave.)
I think it’s a useful feature. (I think it is a useful feature.)
It’s located near the main entrance. (It is located near the main entrance.)
If it’s available, I will order it. (If it is available, I will order it.)

This is the more familiar use of it’s.

It’s meaning “it has”

It’s can mean it has when has is an auxiliary verb helping form a perfect tense.

It’s been a long day. (It has been a long day.)
It’s stopped raining. (It has stopped raining.)
It’s become more expensive. (It has become more expensive.)
It’s taken several months to finish. (It has taken several months to finish.)
It’s already started. (It has already started.)

If has means possession by itself, do not normally shorten it has to it’s:

Standard: The house has a garage.
Not natural: The house—it’s a garage.

The contraction works in phrases such as it has been, it has become, and it has finished, where has helps another verb.

Contractions in formal writing

It’s is standard English and is common in conversation, articles, emails, and most business writing. In highly formal or legal documents, a writer may choose the full form it is or it has for a more formal tone or to avoid ambiguity.

Why doesn’t possessive its have an apostrophe?

Most possessive nouns use an apostrophe: the student’s book or the company’s policy. Possessive personal forms, however, do not: his, hers, ours, yours, theirs, and its.

Compare:

The laptop is hers.
The decision is theirs.
The machine completed its cycle.

Think of its as part of the no-apostrophe possessive group. The apostrophe is reserved for the contraction it’s.

How to remember its vs. it’s

Treat the apostrophe as a contraction signal.

Read it’s as it is.
If that fails, try it has.
If both fail and the sentence shows possession, choose its.

Example:

“The tree lost ___ leaves.”
“The tree lost it is leaves” does not work.
“The tree lost it has leaves” does not work.
Correct: The tree lost its leaves.

Is its’ ever correct?

No. Its’ is not a standard English word.

Incorrect: The device completed its’ update.
Correct: The device completed its update.

The two standard forms are its for possession and it’s for it is or it has.

Is it “its been” or “it’s been”?

Use it’s been because the phrase expands to it has been.

It’s been three weeks since our last meeting.
It’s been repaired and tested.

Its been is incorrect because its must show possession and normally introduce a noun.

Is it “in its place” or “in it’s place”?

Use in its place when place belongs or relates to something.

Put the book back in its place.
The old bridge was removed, and a new one was built in its place.

“In it is place” does not make sense, so it’s fails the replacement test.

Common mistakes and corrections

Incorrect: The car needs it’s tires replaced.

Correct: The car needs its tires replaced.

The tires belong to the car.

Incorrect: Its going to rain this afternoon.

Correct: It’s going to rain this afternoon.

The sentence means it is going to rain.

Incorrect: The app has lost it’s connection.

Correct: The app has lost its connection.

The connection relates to the app.

Incorrect: Its been updated recently.

Correct: It’s been updated recently.

The sentence means it has been updated.

Incorrect: The organization reached it’s goal.

Correct: The organization reached its goal.

Its shows possession; an apostrophe is not needed.

Examples by context

Animals and nature

The fox returned to its den.
It’s searching for food.
The storm has changed its direction, and it’s moving east.

Technology

The tablet is installing its update.
It’s taking longer than expected.
It’s restarted twice since the installation began.

Business

The company announced its quarterly results.
It’s planning to open another office.
It’s grown significantly over the past year.

Everyday situations

The coffee has lost its warmth.
It’s too late to reheat dinner.
The package is on its way, and it’s expected tomorrow.

For another apostrophe-based distinction, see your vs. you’re. You can also practice three related homophones in their vs. there vs. they’re.

Quick practice quiz

Choose its or it’s.

The school changed ___ schedule.
___ almost time for lunch.
The cat is cleaning ___ paws.
___ been unusually quiet today.
Every product has ___ own identification number.
I believe ___ worth the price.
The tree dropped ___ leaves early.
___ received more than 100 applications.

Answers

its — the schedule belongs or relates to the school
it’s — means it is almost time
its — the paws belong to the cat
it’s — means it has been
its — part of the possessive phrase its own
it’s — means it is worth the price
its — the leaves belong to the tree
it’s — means it has received

The same context-first habit also helps with Your vs. You’re and Their vs. There vs. They’re. For a wider set of examples in this topic, use the Homophones archive as the category grows.

Frequently asked questions

What is the main difference between its and it’s?

Its is possessive and means belonging or relating to it. It’s is a contraction meaning it is or it has.

Is its a real word?

Yes. Its is the standard possessive form of the pronoun it: “The building has lost its original color.”

Can it’s mean it has?

Yes. It’s can mean it has when has helps form a perfect tense, as in “It’s been helpful” or “It’s stopped working.”

Is it’s ever possessive?

No. It’s is always a contraction. Use its without an apostrophe for possession.

What is the fastest way to choose the correct form?

Replace the word with it is and then it has. If either version works, use it’s. If neither works and the sentence shows possession, use its.

The rule to remember

Use its without an apostrophe for possession. Use it’s only when you can say it is or it has. Expanding the contraction before you submit your writing will catch nearly every its-versus-it’s error.