Aww My Head Hurts! Use of apostrophes.

[TheSunTheMoonTheTruth]

I have alway got them. I understand them. I know them. I preach them.

And then suddenly about a week ago, I looked at the word 'its' and I have forgotten how to use them. I mean, what the actual fuck? How can you just forget after 30 something years? I have been editing work for years. How can I just lose such a fundamental piece of knowledge; it's cement in my brain!

Yes, I know, I know - I have just used it. But, there are occasions now in the last week when I cannot figure it out; literally there is a blankness where concrete was.

My question therefore is:

"...it's website".

or

"...its website".

The first one. Since it belongs to the website.

*Since 'it' belongs to the website...

It with an apostrophe is only when the apostrophe is for omission - when it means "it is".

What a badly written sentence that ^ is. Sorry.

I was taught that you only use an apostrophe to abbreviate "it is"...therefore I'd say ".....its website"

I think you use an apostrophe when you're contracting "it is", but not to denote ownership.

Thank you! I knew that. But, then I doubted myself once again.

I have been staring at that word for what seems like hours, thinking it looks wrong. Knowing it isn't, but still thinking it is.

What is that all about? Is this like a version of Writers' Block, but for editors? Editors' Block?

Nooooo!

Possessive apostrophises are never used with "it".

Its means something belongs to it all on its own. It's means it is.

Only ever use it when you mean "it is". Not when it belongs to something. Easy peasy!

ARGH!

see?!

Duuuur. It all makes sense now that you've all pointed it out so eloquently!

So it IS Editors Block? See, I also knew it was wrong. But, couldn't figure it out!

I still don't believe any of you...

It's = it is

Its = belonging to it

When my head is concretey I can be caught trying to think it through: it's website...it is website...nah. I have a couple of decent degrees - one in English Lit but my 6 year old and I are on a par some days

These days you can just blame autocorrect for mistakes as it always adds the apostrophe!!! Grr.

Its.

OK.

Run be by use of apostrophes and possessiveness. Is it only with 'it' that ' is not used as possession?

Its website
John's website

?
Yes?

barbara the thing is, the autocorrect didn't change it, so I was like 'huh?' and then have spent god know how long going blind staring at it, doing exactly that 'it is website? nope, that sounds wrong. its website? nope, needs an apostrophe. it's website - it is website? nope sounds wrong...'

Yes, you are right. You are just suffering from an early Senior Moment.

Do you forget what you went into the kitchen for sometimes too?

Its, his, hers - no apostrophe

John's, James', Doreen's - apostrophe

Usually, you would use an apostrophe to denote possession, for example, the girl's shoe was dirty or the boys' toilets were new, but NOT in the word its. Never. Your second sentence is correct.

These are all correct...
The cat hurts its paw.
The dog sat on its cushion.
The bus crashed into its depot.

Theirs, his, hers ours are the same-there is no apostrophe needed.

Its is only ever it's if you could replace its with 'it is'.

It's a nice day.
It's great that people care enough about apostrophes to talk about them on mumsnet.
It's a shame that people still aren't sure when to use its.

Sorry about the last one-humour intended ;)

Does that make sense?

BOF yes. Always. That's the first thing to happen I think isn't it? I also forget what I've gone into the supermarket for if I don't have a list. I forget words too - I speak and then a simple word like 'milk' completely pops out of my head and I am left pointing to the fridge doing miming type expressions with the person I am talking to, usually my DH, shaking his head and saying 'what the heck are you going on about love?'

redlock it makes perfect sense. Now. I should think in about 10 minutes I will have to refer back to this thread when I come across it again

Thank you, and thank you to all for getting it straight in my frazzled mind.

I do that kitchen thing all the time. There's a reason for it, something to do with change of location changing your thought patterns - I forget the details though...

I call it Sleep Deprivation myself and I blame my 3.5yr old entirely. I also blame him for the sharp increase in my white hair situation.

I think we should invent a new kind of punctuation to prevent the apostrophe having two jobs . The apostrophe could then be used to indicate all possession (say) and the new punctuation could indicate contractions ( and perhaps abbreviations too, freeing up full stops from that chore ).