Apostropy after a word

Concerning some words in which you need to put a apostrophe between letters like (its), (theres), and such. Is it correct just to print its without the apostrophe? pljames

[mykwyner]

Its without an apostrophe means "belongs to it" like his means "belongs to him (neither has an apostrophe).

It's with an apostrophe is a contraction of "it is".


The dog was scratching its ear.

I wear a heavy coat when it's cold.

[hamlet554]

You definitely need the apostrophy as the meaning of it's = it is and its = sth. belongs to it are two very different things.

The dog bites its bone. makes sense.
But The dog bites it's (= it is) bone. does not!!

Also It's (=it is) time to go. is perfectly fine.
But Its time to go. whose time are you talking about then???

You always, always need to put the apostrophe (in the correct place!) where it is needed!

A nice book I can recommend that deals with similar problems is "Eats, Shoots and Leaves" by Lynne Truss. Have fun reading it

[RonBee]

Originally Posted by pljames

Concerning some words in which you need to put a apostrophe between letters like (its), (theres), and such. Is it correct just to print its without the apostrophe? pljames

I would say that it is correct in chat rooms, but they go by different rules there. We try to be a little more formal here (sticking to the rules of ordinary
English usage). Also, by doing that in chat rooms (omitting apostrophes) you are likely to fall into bad habits.

~r

[adam33]

In the case of "theres" and "there's", most people will know what you want to say, but they will know it is wrong.

[JJM Ballantyne]

The apostrophe is a written punctuation device that corresponds to nothing in the spoken language.

As such, failure to use it represents a spelling error pure and simple.

[Delmobile]

I know both are wrong, but I think I prefer the streamlined, almost Faulknerian apostrophe omission to the dreadful superfluous apostrophe.

[native speaker & writer, not a teacher]

[BobK]

A small addition to this:

Originally Posted by mykwyner

[i]...
It's with an apostrophe is a contraction of "it is".


...

It's with an apostrophe can also be a contraction of "it has", but only when has is an auxiliary ('helping word') - as in 'It's been raining'. (That is, 'It has a brown fence' can not be abbreviated in this way.)

b