Monday, October 7, 2013

Common Mistake: It's & Its

Many people don't realize that it's and its are two different words with distinct meanings, and those who DO realize it often don't understand the difference.

Here's a simple explanation:
  • It's means it is.
    • Example: It's fun to go swimming at night.
  • Its means belonging to it.
    • Example: The government takes good care of its citizens.
Be careful not to mix up the two different forms. Doing so will get you marked down for grammatical errors and will confuse your readers.

2 comments:

  1. Correction:
    Example: The government does not take good care of its citizens.

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    Replies
    1. Haha..you had me worried I'd mixed up the two forms. Not making a political statement here - that sentence could be about any government!

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