It’s, its and when to use apostrophe + s

Language — 02 October 2010

This commonly made mistake in English has been one of my favourite for years, if not for how common it is, for how easy it is to correct yourself before you err.

Anything wrong with the sentences below?

Its raining.

It’s raining.

Which one is correct? Hurrah, the second. Why? Because we say it is raining, we drop the i, therefore, it’s.

Another one.

Its properties.

It’s properties.

So, we’re talking about an object, and describing the properties of this object. Which one is correct? That’s right, the first, because we never say it is properties, therefore adding an apostrophe would be redundant.

Here’s an example I saw recently while editing video on my Mac, and was flabbergasted to find passed Apple’s grammar team (I don’t know if they have one).

Go on then, find the mistake!

Exactly! We don’t need the apostrophe there, because we are talking about the speed of the clip, and we don’t say it is speed.

So, a simple test. If you can replace it’s with it is or it has, then you can say it’s, if not, you should use its.

Why? Well because:

Irony: A missing s in an explanatory image.

And again:

One more thing. We don’t use apostrophes to make plurals. Let me show you. We don’t use apostrophe’s to make plural’s. Get it?

Why? Well, because you don’t say “I’m carrying 50 banana is.” What you do say is “I’m carrying 50 bananas.” The same applies to PCs, DVDs, flats, cars, bags and countless other words I have seen written in this horrendously incorrect format.

Here’s a few pictures of that, and you can notice where the mistake is.

Extra is? Certainly not.

Sandwich's? I opted for the burger.

I loved this one. Kid's=kid is. Kids'='of' the kids, possessive. Guess which is correct.

This one is just a bonus. I'm sure you can spot it anyway.

And a couple more of these:

If dogs could read they'd be horribly offended.

An Oreo is a biscuit.

Here is how the apostrophe works, and it’s incredibly easy.

Nothing more, nothing less

Find this one a little complicated? Try a simpler version from the Oatmeal here:

Click, read and learn.

In essence, however, what the mighty Oatmeal says is:

Thank you for saving our sanity.

21 Proverbs, updated for the 21st Century

About Author

Mark

Mark is a hyperactive child of the internet, a great fan of entropy and a Grammar Nazi. Interested in disasters and perfection, which have a closer relationship than you might think. Pertinent and irreverent, I'm doing this for the LULz.

(12) Readers Comments

Audri Mizzi
October 2, 2010 at 12:48

hahaha;)

Reply
Cedric Vella
October 2, 2010 at 13:49

next up -- lose and loose, their and they’re :p

Reply
Mark
October 2, 2010 at 14:52

Oh yesssss *ejaculates out of sheer trepidation*

Reply
- Maliyah
  August 12, 2011 at 05:49
  
  Now I’m like, well duh! Truly tnahkful for your help.
  
  Reply
Luke Desira
October 2, 2010 at 15:26

your and you’re … that’s another very common mistake!

p.s. there is a mistake: the bank ruined ITS image..

Reply
Kris Nocturne Brutalsounds
October 2, 2010 at 15:49

IT’s fascinating that such elementary grammar has to be elaborated to the plebs x) btw, loving Bob, the angry flower!

Reply
mau
October 5, 2010 at 11:11

i felt queasy reading all those mistakes.

Reply
Davinia
October 5, 2010 at 14:26

Can you please also tackle the following?

-How to spell ‘definitely’ (not definately; not definatly; not definitaly).

-Could have, not could of.

-Practice vs Practise.

-Loose ve. Lose.

Also, did you notice that there are Patatos next to the extra’s? They probably pronounce it that way, too: pah-tay-toss

Reply
mark
October 5, 2010 at 16:13

Haha, sharp eyes Davinia! And, consider it done.

Reply
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Josanne Cassar
November 16, 2010 at 15:36

two words: Thank you!

Reply