When you provide computer training to attorneys people, you can't help but see things. I recently saw something and am compelled to provide the following information. I'm not saying an attorney could be grammatically challenged – I'm just providing the information – just as a reminder:
It's is a contraction for it is or it has.
Examples:
It's about time!
It's due next week.
Do you know if it's finished?
Its is a possessive pronoun. (Something belongs to it.)
Examples:
Crummer Graduate School? Its MBA program is the best!
The company has its own parking garage.
Where is its headquarters?
And please, please, please – don't EVER use [its'] – There is no such word.
I promise.
Still confused? Try this test:
If you can replace it[']s in your sentence with it is or it has, then use it's.
If not, use its.
Still not sure? Consider this:
Its is the non-gender version of his and her. Try replacing its with his or her in your sentence. If the sentence still makes sense grammatically then you should use its.
If you are still having trouble, remember this rule:
If you can replace the word with "it is" or "it has," use it's. Otherwise, it's always its.
posted by: Julie Stiles Mills