Usage Contextgeneralgrammar-risk

Note: Common confusion with "it’s" in fast drafting.

Its

//ɪts// contraction, det, noun, pron

Definitions

Contraction
  1. 1
    Obsolete spelling of it's. alt-of, contraction, obsolete

    "As for the main bulk of Palaces, its true ſome have a greatneſs in plainneſs, […]"

Determiner
  1. 1
    Belonging to it.

    "The manner wherewith our Lawes assay to moderate the foolish and vaine expences of table-cheare and apparell, seemeth contrarie to it's end."

Noun
  1. 1
    plural of it form-of, plural
  2. 2
    Initialism of issue tracking system. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
  3. 3
    Initialism of intelligent transportation system. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
Pronoun
  1. 1
    The one (or ones) belonging to it.

    "… both Houses have resolved to rob the North of a good friend of its and yours."

Etymology

Etymology 1

Equivalent to it + -s (possessive marker). From the earlier form it's (it + -'s), which is now considered nonstandard. Began to displace his as the possessive of the neuter pronoun in the Middle English period; had fully displaced it by the 1700s.

Etymology 2

Equivalent to it + -s (possessive marker). From the earlier form it's (it + -'s), which is now considered nonstandard. Began to displace his as the possessive of the neuter pronoun in the Middle English period; had fully displaced it by the 1700s.

Etymology 3

Contraction of it + is.

Etymology 4

From it + -s (plural suffix).

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