It’s not that hard. In fact, it’s actually pretty easy. Don’t let it confuse you because of its daunting reputation. With a little effort, it’s going to become second nature to you. You might even become its friend!
Are you confused yet? Don’t be. The Grammar Guru here, just stopping in for a quick grammar lesson, for it seems it’s necessary for the common folk. Lots of people struggle with the appropriate usage of apostrophes in their writing, and if you are dealing with the wrong person (or right, if you’re asking me) it could totally ruin your reputation with such an individual. I’m here to make sure you do not fall victim to these silly mistakes! It’s really not as hard as you think. Ready?
It’s = Contraction of ‘It is’ or ‘It has.’
Examples:
- It’s raining.
- It’s been a year since we spoke.
Its = Possessive form of it.
Examples:
- The baby can’t hold its head up.
- This tree is nice, I’ve been sitting under its shade.
That’s it; it really is that simple. Just think of the apostrophe as taking place of the additional word (is or has). An apostrophe is almost never used to indicate possession. It is however used to form contractions all the time.
Remember these key rules to avoid careless grammatical errors that may taint your personal brand. Stay tuned for more!
This post courtesy of MMC Summer 2019 Intern Bianca Price.