Q&A for How to Use Its and It's

Return to Full Article

Coming soon

Add New Question

Question

When do I use "it's?"

Community Answer

"It's" is the contraction of the phrase, "It is." Where you could use "it is," you can use "it's" instead.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 6 Helpful 27
Question

When do I use "it"?

Donagan

Top Answerer

"It" is a pronoun used to take the place of a genderless noun.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 9 Helpful 12
Question

Which word is correct for the sentence, "The book about the moon is about the moon and (it's/its) phases"?

Community Answer

"Its," because "it's" is a contraction of "it is" and "its" is possessive.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 8 Helpful 20
Question

Can you give an example of a sentence with "its" and "it's?"

Community Answer

It's raining hard on the city and its parks. In this sentence, "it's" can be read as "it is," and "its" is used in the second half to indicate that the parks belong to the city.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 8 Helpful 17
Question

"It's my favorite mango." Is this the proper usage?

Community Answer

Yes, because the sentence retains its meaning when stretched out as "It is my favorite mango."

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 7 Helpful 11
Question

Isn't "it's" possessive because it shows ownership?

Community Answer

"It's" is a contraction that means "it is." "Its" shows ownership in the same way as "his," "hers," and "theirs."

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 5 Helpful 5
Question

With animals, is "its" used?

Donagan

Top Answerer

If the gender of the animal is unknown or unimportant, using "its" is fine.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 6
Question

"It's" or "its" estimated delivery will be?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Its.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 5
Question

I've always had a very hard time with English pronouns, adjectives and how to use correct English when writing. I don’t want to seem as though I can’t write correctly; what would you recommend?

Donagan

Top Answerer

See Be Good at English and related articles.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 4
Question

Washington state or Washington State?

Community Answer

The state of Washington officially refers to itself as "the State of Washington," even though "state" is not a proper noun. From there it's easy to adopt the spelling "Washington State." However, that can be confusing, because one of the state's major universities is known as "Washington State." Bottom line: capitalize "state" if you want to.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Question

"Varun could not find (its/his) book." Which would it be?

Ruby

Top Answerer

Assuming Varun is a person and not a pet or inanimate object, you would say, "Varun could not find his book."

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0