Its/it's proper usage

This is something that somewhat bothers/confuses me when I'm writing - what is the proper usage of its and it's? I used to think that it's denoted ownership, like boneyarsebogman's, but from reading others' writing, this doesn't seem to be the case.

Is it's used just for "it is" and its is to show ownership?

EileenG

It's is the contraction of It is. So "It's going to rain today".

Its is the possessive form. So "The cloud released its rain".

Megastar

It helps me to remember that "his" and "hers" don't take an apostrophe so the possessive "its" doesn't either.

I guess what confuses me the most is that with most other words, the possessive would be 's, yet "it" is just "s". Are there any other words, apart from "it", where this is true?

It's funny, I knew that his and hers didn't have the 's, though I never thought of it.

While I'm on the subject, with words ending in an "s", like James, would the possessive be "James'" or "James's" or would either be correct?

pickarooney

Deleted User wrote: »

While I'm on the subject, with words ending in an "s", like James, would the possessive be "James'" or "James's" or would either be correct?

Either James' or James's can be used, depending on the audience or house rules.
This should really be in the English forum.

EileenG

pickarooney wrote: »

This should really be in the English forum.

I see this misused so often in stories that it's no harm to have it clarified in this forum.

Now, if we could clear up your/you're and their/there...

pickarooney

EileenG wrote: »

I see this misused so often in stories that it's no harm to have it clarified in this forum.

Now, if we could clear up your/you're and their/there...

Between all the threads in CW, English, Spell Czechs, After Hours and Ranting and Raving we should just ask for a "There/their/they're" forum.

We could make this thread about questions on language issues in creative writing in general maybe?

i can happily grumble about then/than as well, and typos in books...

pickarooney

pickarooney wrote: »

Deleted User wrote: »

While I'm on the subject, with words ending in an "s", like James, would the possessive be "James'" or "James's" or would either be correct?

Either James' or James's can be used, depending on the audience or house rules.
This should really be in the English forum.

There's an English forum? I really just lose track of what is on boards.

pickarooney

Yep, here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=328

Kinski

bluewolf wrote: »

i can happily grumble about then/than as well, and typos in books...

Unlike it's/its and their/they're/there, then/than is not (usually) a result of writers being ignorant of the rules, though; it's just carelessness. Ditto typos.

I don't think I was ever taught proper grammar in schools as such, so when I'm writing something it's usually automatically that I follow the rules, yet when I actually look back/think about what it is that I've written, that's when I might get confused.

Does that happen to anyone else?

pavb2

Following on from the it's, its,

is there any case where you would use its'

P. Breathnach

pavb2 wrote: »

Following on from the it's, its,

is there any case where you would use its'

I think only in a typo.

EileenG

pavb2 wrote: »

is there any case where you would use its'

Can't think of one.

Antilles

EileenG wrote: »

Can't think of one.

Glad to see I'm not the only one who wracked his brain for a possible example!

Well, I assume that "its'" would be the plural of it, so probably "their" would be more correct? i.e. "the tigers caught their tails"?

EileenG

Yes, I'd use "their" in that case.

pickarooney

pavb2 wrote: »

Following on from the it's, its,

is there any case where you would use its'

If you were having trouble with scanning you could use its' bits' teen' ween' yell' polk' dot bikin' maybe?

Megastar

pavb2 wrote: »

Following on from the it's, its,

is there any case where you would use its'

How about:
I used its several times in a sentence, three its', in fact, but the its' spelling was wrong as they should have had an apostrophe.

pickarooney

Megastar wrote: »

How about:
I used its several times in a sentence, three its', in fact, but the its' spelling was wrong as they should have had an apostrophe.

Pluralising with an apostrophe?

"Itses", if anything, or maybe "it'ses".

Megastar

pickarooney wrote: »

Megastar wrote: »

How about:
I used its several times in a sentence, three its', in fact, but the its' spelling was wrong as they should have had an apostrophe.

Pluralising with an apostrophe?

"Itses", if anything, or maybe "it'ses".

I'm sure you're right. What I was getting at was the use of apostrophes to replace letters, as in a contraction like "won't". If the plural of "its" were "itss" then I think an apostrophe would be called for.

PurpleBee

I'm very slow with this kind of stuff, but I wrote a sentence like this...

...the cat whose meow...

and Microsoft word is telling me the correct way is

...the cat who's meow...

which one is right? I want to talk about the meow as belonging to the cat. I thought whose was right!

Kinski

PurpleBee wrote: »

I'm very slow with this kind of stuff, but I wrote a sentence like this...

...the cat whose meow...

and Microsoft word is telling me the correct way is

...the cat who's meow...

which one is right? I want to talk about the meow as belonging to the cat. I thought whose was right!

You are. Ignore MS Word.

Daleno

pavb2 wrote: »

Following on from the it's, its,

is there any case where you would use its'

From the Adams Family.

Cousin Its' hair covers his whole body.


:P

And yes I am aware it's spelled Itt. I'm just trying to be hilarious.

The Mad Hatter

Kinski wrote: »

You are. Ignore MS Word.

Unless the cat's name is Meow

Antilles

The Mad Hatter wrote: »

Kinski wrote: »

You are. Ignore MS Word.

Unless the cat's name is Meow

That's what you get for letting the cat name herself!

Stripey Cat

I don't understand why people get 'loose' confused with 'lose'.

pickarooney

Stripey Cat wrote: »

I don't understand why people get 'loose' confused with 'lose'.

This thread is not going down that road, thanks.

Stripey Cat

pickarooney wrote: »

We could make this thread about questions on language issues in creative writing in general maybe?

pickarooney wrote: »

This thread is not going down that road, thanks.

No - Thank You....

pickarooney

Stripey Cat wrote: »

No - Thank You....

Yours isn't a question or an opening to discussion, it's an expression of scorn, which is fine in Spell Czechs or Ranting and Raving. Besides, you obviously do understand that it's because 'lose' has a long 'oo' sound that people make the mistake.

Antilles

pickarooney wrote: »

Stripey Cat wrote: »

No - Thank You....

Yours isn't a question or an opening to discussion, it's an expression of scorn, which is fine in Spell Czechs or Ranting and Raving. Besides, you obviously do understand that it's because 'lose' has a long 'oo' sound that people make the mistake.

Sorry, Stripey Cat - you loose!

Stripey Cat

pickarooney wrote: »

Yours isn't a question or an opening to discussion, it's an expression of scorn, which is fine in Spell Czechs or Ranting and Raving. Besides, you obviously do understand that it's because 'lose' has a long 'oo' sound that people make the mistake.

I didn't realise you thought you could read my mind. My mistake.

For the record, I wasn't being scornful of anyone. I genuinely don't understand why people make this mistake. It seems so clear which is which, but so many people get it wrong it's becoming mainstream.

I was hoping that there was a chance that there could be a discussion of the reasons behind this mistake, but, as you say, it's better not to, except by you, doing what you said we shouldn't do, telling me what I "obviously" understand, by reading my mind.

Thanks again.

pickarooney

In what way is it clear that 'lose' is pronounced /luz/ and 'loose' is pronounced /lus/?
You're simply being disingenuous now and spoiling the thread.

Stripey Cat

pickarooney wrote: »

In what way is it clear that 'lose' is pronounced /luz/ and 'loose' is pronounced /lus/?

Sorry, where did I say this?

pickarooney wrote: »

You're simply being disingenuous now and spoiling the thread.

I am, am I? Thanks for that. I'll stop.

God forbid someone else might be dictating what can and can't be said, ascribing views to others, contradicting themselves, and generally throwing shapes.

That would be awful.

pickarooney

If you're looking for a row, go somewhere else. Thread has been successfully killed. Cheers.