Did you spot the two errors in the title? If so, skip this tip because you do not need it.
At my day job this week I got emails from two different people, both extremely powerful and successful in their respective fields, yet woefully ignorant of the it’s/its distinction. Here they are, edited to protect the guilty:
I got this information from the Immigration office. Therefore, we don’t
have to worry about it’s accuracy.
The X Society of B.C. is hosting it’s annual conference at the Coast Plaza Hotel and Suites in Vancouver.
Then my dad wrote me this anguished email:
Sign at my apartment building: “Downtown living at it’s best.” I had to cover the apostrophe with a piece of white label.
(Isn’t my dad the best ever?)
OK, time to lay down the law (not “lie down the law”– see Tip #2).
Here is a simple way to make sure you use the right one. “It’s” is short for “it is” or “it has.” So try replacing “it’s” with “it is” and see how your sentence sounds.
I got this information from the Immigration office. Therefore, we don’t
have to worry about it is accuracy.
Downtown living at it is finest
See what I mean?
“Its” is the possessive form of “it.” So it means “belonging to it.” So the title of this tip could be read as:
The Back Belonging to It! The Confusion Between “Its” and It’s” Rears It Is Ugly Head!
And that is clearly not what I meant.