Grammar (and other mechanics)

"It's" and "Its"

This is tricky. When you are talking about someone owning something, then you say "Abby's hairbrush" or something. You use apostrophes. But in "it's," the apostrophe and the s stand for 'is.' If you said "The crown had jewels all over it's points," then you are really saying this: "The crown had jewels all over it is points," and that makes no sense, right?

I know that sounds weird, and you're confused. But if you want to be possessive, you'd actually say "The crown had jewels all over its points." That looks incorrect, but my mother teaches advanced 8th grade language arts, and she knows this. My mother's side is very grammar and spelling sensitive (and that passed on to me), so I know this is right. My mom taught me.

Here are some correct and incorrect uses of "its" and "it's.":

"There were warts on it's skin." Incorrect! It doesn't make sense to say "There were warts on it is skin." The correct use is "There were warts on its skin."

"It's very nice!" Correct! It makes sense to say "It is very nice!"

"No, don't apologize... its okay." Incorrect! It makes sense to say "No, don't apologize... it is okay." so you'd replace the "its" with "it's" and all will be well.

"Its teeth are sharp." Correct! It doesn't make sense when you say "It is teeth are sharp," and you are talking about the frog's teeth. It is possessive.