its and it's

[dribfunk]

I'm really struggling on this one, but when do you use its and when do you use it's.

I always thought the apostrophe was used when a letter was to be removed (doesn't, isn't etc) and also when it belongs to someone (Peter's cat).

So when exactly do we use its?

[hellywellywo]

dorisday is right it is not Peter's.  It is peters.

or should I say, "it's Peters".

[littleoldme]

'Fraid not. It's Peter's is short for it is belonging to Peter. It's Peters would mean it is more than one Peter, which makes no sense, unless you're asking someone whose surname is Peters what his/her name is, in which case "It's Peters" would be a perfectly good answer.

Now, where are those damned Anadin?

[dribfunk]

Sorry guys - I knew I shouldn't have asked.

But if we can just reiterate, when is it correct to use its and it's?

Also, is the word infront acceptable or should I start a new thread.

Oh the joys of the beautiful english language and the fun/havoc that can be caused...

[littleoldme]

Yes, it's all getting a bit out of hand now :-)

In short:

it's = it is or it has
its = belonging to it

[dribfunk]

So it's the dog's bone and the dog has the bone in its mouth.

What's been the problem? 

lol

[littleoldme]

To paraphrase from My Fair Lady:

By Jove, I think you've got it! :-)

[TheSooze]

It's (-it is) not unusual for anyone to get mixed up with this, i myself have struggled!

So, if something belongs to someone it's 'peters' as in 'that is peters' but if you're saying peter has or is something it would be 'peter's an idiot.

Oh i don't know.

[Piper-AK]

It's all getting a bit much - the poor child will have its work cut out trying to remember this one.

Is that right????

[littleoldme]

Spot on, Piper-AK. :-)

TheSooze - "it's Peter's" requires an apostrophe in each word - in "it's" because of the abbreviation of "it is", and in "Peter's" because of the abbreviation of "belonging to Peter", but possessives which just use his, hers or its do not take an apostrophe. Put another way:

Peter's = Peter is (Peter's a Gemini), Peter has (Peter's gone out), or belonging to Peter (Peter's car needs petrol).

It's = it is (it's a lovely day) or it has (it's rained all night), but NOT belonging to it (the weather can't make up its mind).