When do you use its vs. it’s?

Though they’re pronounced the same, there’s a big difference in meaning between its and it’s.

  • Its (without an apostrophe) is the possessive form of it, so it means ‘belonging to it’.
    • ‘The cat ate its food’.
  • It’s (with an apostrophe) is a contraction (shortened form) of it is or it has.
    • ‘It’s almost Christmas’.