1. it’s/its
It’s is a shortened form, or contraction of, “it is” or “it has.”
Examples:
- It’s a sunny day.
- It’s been a long journey.
Its is a possessive, which shows ownership.
Example: The cat cleaned itself with its paws.
Don’t let it’s/it’s give you fits. The website www.its-not-its.info defines their differences and offers a helpful way to remember them: “It’s an apostrophe.”
2. apostrophes
Add apostrophes to words when you’re referring to something someone else owns (the possessive form).
Example: Jim’s car needs to be washed.
The subject (Jim) is a noun in the singular form (no “s” at the end).
Nouns in the plural form (more than one) can be trickier. You add an apostrophe after the “s.”
Example: The boys’ locker room is closed.
A variation on these nouns in the singular form can be even trickier. You do as shown in the first example: add an apostrophe and an “s” after them. An easy way to remember this rule is if you hear an “-es” after you pronounce the noun in the possessive form.
Examples:
- The princess’s dress is torn. (“Princess-es”)
- Charles’s horse is brown. (“Charles-es”)
And don’t place an apostrophe in possessive pronouns (hers, his, yours, ours, theirs, its, whose) — they don’t need them.
3. their/there/they’re — These words sound alike, but they’re different, which can be confusing. Here’s some “there-apy.”
- Their: use it when referring to something that belongs to more than one person.
- There: use it to refer to a location or to something else.
Examples:
- The gas station is over there.
- There is a way out.
They’re: it’s a contraction or shortened form of “they are.”
Remember how you’re using these words.
All three together:
Example: They’re in the dining room, and their jackets are over there.
4. your/you’re — Your: a possessive; use it to refer to something that belongs to someone else. You’re: it’s a contraction of “you are.”
5. are/our — Are is a plural form of the verb “to be.” Our means “of” or “belonging to us,” otherwise known as the possessive form of “we.” Both words can sound the same, depending on how you pronounce them. A sentence such as “Are our children studying?” can add to the confusion.
One of my teachers taught me that the right way to pronounce our is “ow-er” (think “hour” without the “h”). This helped me remember the difference between “our” and “are.”
As in many of the examples I used, saying words aloud is a great way to learn them and understand them better. In school, I was taught phonics and recommend them for improving everyone’s English.
Want (or need) more advice?
Advice from someone who knows proper grammar and punctuation can help you improve your writing and make you look smarter and more skilled in your field.
Quotes
“I never made a mistake in grammar but one in my life and as soon as I done it I seen it.” ~ Carl Sandburg
“Writing is an act of faith, not a trick of grammar.” ~ E.B. White
Comments? Suggestions? Need help with your writing? Contact me.
Michelle Troutman
Classy Writing
207.332.8379
classywriting.com