its and it's cause more lost marks than almost any other apostrophe error. The rule is the opposite of what students expect:
| it's (with apostrophe) | its (without apostrophe) |
|---|---|
| Contraction only: it is or it has "It's raining." = It is raining. ✓ "It's been a long day." = It has been a long day. ✓ |
Possession: the thing belonging to it "The cat licked its paw." ✓ "The city kept its secrets." ✓ No apostrophe, even though it shows possession. |
The expand test: try replacing it's / its with it is. If the sentence still makes sense — use it's. If it sounds wrong — use its (no apostrophe).
Quick Check: Which is correct? "The factory finally stopped [its / it's] machines." Use the expand test.
its (no apostrophe). Try expanding: "The factory finally stopped it is machines" — that is nonsense. The word here shows possession (the machines belonging to the factory), so no apostrophe: its machines.
This deep dive covers 🔎 The its/it's Trap — and How to Beat It within Apostrophe Usage for GCSE English Language. Revise Apostrophe Usage in AO6 Technical Accuracy for GCSE English Language with 10 exam-style questions and 5 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 3 of 5 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Practice questions for Apostrophe Usage
Which sentence uses an apostrophe correctly?
Which sentence uses 'its' or 'it's' correctly?