Superman to the Rescue: The It’s and Its Problem:

It’s and its confusion consistently hits the top of the most common error charts. But wait, Superman can help you remember when to use the contraction it’s.

It’s is a contraction of a pronoun and a verb:    it’s  =  it is

Using contractions in our speaking and writing makes our language flow more naturally. Without contractions, our language sounds more formal, rigid, stilted, and unnatural. If you want to sound conversational in your writing, use contractions but remember to use the apostrophe correctly.

Here’s how Superman sees it:

Stop and think about Superman when you use the contraction it’s. Superman loves apostrophes.

Special thanks to Mandy Heck for her artwork.

Rubber Ducks and Poetry

It’s Rubber Ducky Day and National Poetry at Work Day! Celebrate!

credit: Missy Meyer at Holiday Doodles

Other holiday posts (capital letters):

C is for Calendar Quirks

Happy New Year’s Day 

 

 

Its and It’s: Church Steeples and Dog Collars

Of all the possessive pronouns, the simple its causes the most problems. It is most commonly confused with the contraction it’s (it is).

its = possessive form of the pronoun it
it’s = contraction of it is

Use these clues for using the possessive pronoun (its) correctly:

1. Possessive pronouns work as adjectives to limit nouns.
   my          our     your      his        hers       its        their
2. Possessive pronouns never use apostrophes to show possession or ownership
   my         our     your       his        hers       its        their
3. A noun follows a possessive pronoun:
   its sign       its steeple       its collar
4. An adjective may follow the possessive pronoun:
   its yellow sign    its big sign   its tall sign  its white steeple
5. The possessive pronoun its is usually not found at the beginning of a sentence.

The poodle lost its pink diamond-studded collar.

The maple tree lost its red and yellow leaves.

The gray kitten lapped up its cold milk.

The cow chewed its cud.

See also: Play Monopoly with its and it’s 

Play Monopoly with Its and It’s

It’s and its are commonly confused words in writing. You see examples of this confusion on signs and social media sites every day; yet this common mistake can be easily checked and fixed.

its = possessive form of the pronoun it

it’s = contraction of it is

Three clues for using the possessive pronoun (its) correctly:

1. Possessive pronouns never use apostrophes to show possession or ownership (my, his, her, its, our, your, their).
2. The possessive pronoun its is usually not found at the beginning of a sentence.
3. A noun (possibly with an adjective) follows a possessive pronoun:  its sign   its yellow sign    its big sign   its tall sign

Which one: its or it’s?

Check 1: Does the sentence make sense using the contraction it’s (it is) in place of the possessive pronoun its?

It’s Monopoly Time.  (It is Monopoly Time.)

McDonald’s sign makes sense with the contraction it’s for  it is.

Therefore, McDonald’s made a mistake on its yellow sign. The sign needs the contraction it’s (it is) and it’s (it is) not the possessive pronoun its.

Check 2: Position of its in sentence:

The possessive its is not usually found at the beginning of a sentence.

• McDonald’s made a mistake on its yellow sign.

More sentences with the possessive pronoun its.

1. The dog chases its fluffy tail while the kitten chews its paw.
2. The tree lost its yellow leaves in the windstorm.
3. The members of the church painted its tall steeple and its white front door.
4. The store advertised its January sale in its display window.
5. His truck lost its extra wheel.

Do you see the position of its in these sentences?
Do you see the adjectives tucked in after its and before the nouns?

Both of these clues help you identify the possessive pronoun its.
These sentences make sense using the possessive pronoun its.

Here’s a tricky one:

• This is my dog. Its name is Blackey. It’s chewing its tasty bone.

The second sentence begins with the possessive pronoun its (an example of a sentence that does start with its.)
The third sentence uses both it’s (contraction for it is) and its (possessive pronoun).

Use these clues to help you use its and it’s correctly.

Happy New Year’s Day

Happy New Year – 2015!

May your new year be filled with joy and blessings. May you be comforted in any sadness.

photo: free images-photosdotcom

Did you stop and think about using an apostrophe for this New Year’s Day?

Apostrophes on holidays can be confusing. Some holidays use them; some do not.

If you say “Happy New Year,” don’t worry about an apostrophe. You don’t need one.

But if a noun follows “New Year,” use an apostrophe:

• New Year’s Day
• New Year’s Eve
• New Year’s presents
• New Year’s wishes
• New Year’s parades
• New Year’s fireworks
• New Year’s celebrations

Other holidays that use apostrophes:

• Valentine’s Day
• Saint Patrick’s Day
• Mother’s Day
• Father’s Day.

If you have a holiday with plurals, remember to put the apostrophe after the s.

• Presidents’ Day
• April Fools’ Day

Tricks and Traps on holiday apostrophes: some holidays do not have an apostrophe:

• Veterans Day
• Armed Forces Day
• United Nations Day

And now that you have rested up from your New Year’s Eve celebrations, what do you have planned for New Year’s Day?