On its / it's

This is one of those common errors that drives me nuts -- but it’s easy to remember that only the verb in this pair has its own apostrophe.

Its is a possessive pronoun that indicates ownership:
What is the cow chewing? The cow is chewing its cud.

It’s is a contraction built from it + is, and it indicates that a thing is doing something (or even simply that the thing exists):
Where is the cow going? It’s going back to the barn.

Put them together:
Now that the cow has chewed its cud for an hour, it’s time to go back to the barn.
(This means that after the cow has chewed its own cud, it is time to head for the barn.)

To remember the difference, try these clues:

• Its is like mine or yours – they are all pronouns that tell who owns something, and none contains an apostrophe (’).

• It’s is a verb built from it + is, and if you can break down your word into it is and still make sense, it’s with the apostrophe (’) is the one you want.

On your / you’re / yore

Many people struggle to distinguish between your and you’re. Perhaps this explanation will help clarify the difference:

Your is a possessive pronoun that shows who something belongs to:

Whose chair is this? It’s your chair.

You’re is a contraction built from you + are, and it indicates that a person is doing something:

Who is going to cut the cake? You’re going to cut the cake.

Yore refers to a time long, long ago, and it is not a very common word these days, unless you hang out at the Renaissance Festival and listen to tales of yore.

Put them together:

This is your chair, and you’re going to cut the cake.

(This means that the chair belongs to you and that you are going to cut the cake.)

To remember the difference, try these clues:

• Your contains our, a pronoun that indicates something we own.

• You’re is a verb built from you + are. Remember, if you can break it down, it is a verb that needs an apostrophe (’).

On there / their / they’re

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I am a professional writer and editor, and I offer in-person writing tutoring in Deer Park and La Porte on an appointment-only basis (e-mail me for details). I will post a grammar/usage tip every week or so, beginning with my pet peeves.

On there / their / they’re

There is a place:
Where did they park? They parked over there by the trees.

Their belongs to someone:
Which one is the Smith family’s car? That blue Toyota is their car.

They’re is a contraction built from they + are, and it indicates that two or more people are doing something:
What are they doing? They’re getting a picnic basket out of the trunk.

Put them together:
The blue car parked over there is their car, and they’re carrying a picnic basket.
(This means that the blue car parked under the trees is the Smiths’ car, and they are carrying a picnic basket.)

To remember the difference, try these clues:

• There contains here, which also indicates a place.

• A person who inherits something is an heir, and you will find an heir in their.

• They’re is the only one of these three that is a verb, which indicates an action. If you can break down the word into they are without making your sentence into nonsense, they’re is the word you want. This verb is also the only one of these three that contains an apostrophe (’).