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Plurals, Possessives, and Contractions

1. Plurals are usually formed by adding "s" to words WITHOUT an apostrophe:

		one hat ----> two hats		
		1960 ----> 1960s	
		Hindu---->Hindus

2. Possession by one person or thing is usually indicated by adding an apostrophe and an "s":

		The hat's brim was bent.  
		The Hindu's home was new.

3. Possession by more than one person or thing is indicated by adding an "s" and an apostrophe:

		The hats' labels were all sewn on backwards.
		The Sabres' playoff chances are melting like snow in springtime.

4. Contractions use an apostrophe to indicate missing letters:

		do not ----> don't
		cannot ----> can't     <Please note that cannot is one word, not two!>
		is not ----> isn't

5. Distinguish possessives from contractions:

		its  	== "belongs to it"		"The groundhog saw its shadow."	
		it's 	== "it is" or "it has"		"It's cold today.  It's been raining, too."

		your	== "belongs to you"		whose	== "belongs to who"
		you're	== "you are"			who's	== "who is"

"Its" is an exception to first and third rules above. Adding the "s" doesn't turn "it" into a plural; possession, in this case, is NOT indicated by adding an apostrophe and "s"!

"It's" looks like a possessive because of that stupid apostrophe, but it's a contraction.

"Its" fits into a normal pattern of possessive pronouns, none of which use the apostrophe: his, hers, its, yours, ours, theirs.

• The ability to apply rules to specific situations, making allowances for exceptions to the rules, is one sign of intelligent life.

It's is not, it isn't ain't,

and it's it's, not its, if you mean it is.

If you don't, it's its.

Then too, it's hers. It isn't her's.

It isn't our's either.

It's ours, and likewise yours and theirs.

Oxford University Press, Edpress News