It’s v Its

[FunIsland]

I’ve just read a tweet where someone said something along the lines of ‘I don’t believe AI is as much of a threat as people say it is because it keeps correcting its to it’s.

So I starting thinking, when would you use its? Googled it (obviously) and it says when it’s possessive. I’ve always used am apostrophe for both versions of its / it’s. Have I been doing this wrong for over half a century and why do we use a possessive apostrophe in some circumstances but not others?

Yes, you've been doing it wrong! No apostrophe in the possessive.

Yes you’ve been doing it wrong.

normally there is a possessive apostrophe in every word but its is the exception to the rule.

it’s means it is
its means possessive.

this is literally the only time you don’t use an apostrophe for the possessive.

I thought the apostrophe is only when you are meaning 'it is'? The apostrophe is to indicate the missing letter.

• I put the key on its hook.
• Where's the key? It's on the hook.

???

Its is a possessive like your,my, her,his. It doesn't have an apostrophe.

The school has its own swimming pool.

It's is an abbreviation of it is. Belonging to it is its.

Apostrophes are also used to indicate absent letters - the second I in "it is" in this case.

Edited to say: sorry! X-posted with lots of people

Now this has me wondering, what about hers? Theirs?

I love this sort of thing (even when it turns out I’ve been doing it wrong)

You wouldn’t put an apostrophe in his or hers. Nor is there an apostrophe in its, when it is a pronoun - the museum is proud of its exhibits. Unfortunately, spellchecker will often change it incorrectly.

I wonder why it’s different.

I know the reason it’s there in the possessive bit is that historically it would have read -es to denote possession and removing the e added the apostrophe but I wonder why it’s different for this group of words.

I can feel myself disappearing down a rabbit hole and missing my run this morning!

That’s what was infuriating the woman on Twitter / X

DH didn’t know either and he’s very well read 64 year old so I feel slightly vindicated.

Thank you for today’s lesson!

Should today’s have an apostrophe? It’s autocorrecting it and now I’m overthinking.

Yes, it's possessive: "the lesson belonging to today".

Edited for punctuation. I'm a bugger for using a dash too often

One that was a bone of contention when I was a teacher was Sports Day (the day of many sports) or Sport's Day (the day belonging to sport? As preferred by the PE coordinator).

I’m an EFL director with related certificates etc but I must admit to always stumbling over Mother’s Day or Mothers Day or Mothers’ Day and have to check it every single year.

does the day belong to one or plural mothers, or is it the day of plural mothers?!

What’s the answer?? That one always gets me and I never find an answer 😅

I get round it by calling it Mothering Sunday.
Of course, there's then Father's/Fathers' Day to be considered

Sports day surely?

Just to add that it’s can also mean it has.
It’s been raining all day.

Thank you. That was my take on it. I was in Early Years so had a separate event and all my letters went out saying Sports Day and the rest of the school had Sport's Day. We've both been retired for 10 years so I have no idea what the letters say now.

Think of it is the at apostrophes are in contractions and not in possessive pronouns,

He’s = he is
His = belongs to him

It’s = it is
its = belongs to it

Have always had an agonising moment when looking at Mother's Day cards. I feel it should be Mothers' Day but the card industry disagrees.
Sport Day or Sports' Day is surely correct?

Oh dear I've just said a word 'surely' and I haven't a clue where it goes in the sentence! 😩

Sports Day is the correct way. Sports not Sport because it involves more than one sport.

I hate that too 🤣 Worse if I'm writing it, because then there are commas to consider!

I have embraced the online etiquette of posting and not caring (to an extent).