The difference between its and it's, English Grammar

"Its" and "it's" are two commonly confused words in English. While they look and sound similar, they have different meanings and uses.

The difference between its and it's

"Its" is a possessive pronoun that is used to show ownership or belonging. It indicates that something belongs to or is associated with a particular thing or entity.

Example: 

The dog wagged its tail.

In this sentence, "its" indicates that the tail belongs to the dog.

On the other hand, "it's" is a contraction of "it is" or "it has". It is used to shorten a sentence and make it less formal.

Examples:

It's raining outside. (It is raining outside.)

It's been a long day. (It has been a long day.)

Note that "it's" is always used in place of "it is" or "it has", and it is never used as a possessive pronoun.

Here's a tip to help you remember the difference between these two words:

If you can replace "it's" with "it is" or "it has", then you should use "it's".

If you cannot replace "it's" with "it is" or "it has", then you should use "its".

In summary, "its" is a possessive pronoun used to show ownership or belonging, while "it's" is a contraction of "it is" or "it has". By understanding the difference between these two words and using them correctly, you can improve your writing and avoid common grammatical errors.