Its vs. Their – Which is Correct?
Its is the possessive form of it, whereas their is the possessive form of they. Use its for something belonging to one animal, object, organization, or nonhuman entity; use their for plural people or things and often for a singular person whose gender is unknown or irrelevant. Both are valid.
Its or Their – Which is Correct?
Its and their are both correct words, but they refer to different antecedents. Its shows possession by a singular nonhuman noun, such as an animal, object, company, country, or institution. Their shows possession by a plural noun or by a singular person who uses singular they.
For example, “The dog wagged its tail” refers to one dog, while “The dogs wagged their tails” refers to multiple dogs. In “Every applicant should submit their résumé,” their refers to each applicant using singular they.
Do not confuse its with it’s. It’s is a contraction meaning “it is” or “it has.” Likewise, their is different from they’re, which means “they are.”
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the antecedent test: identify who or what owns something before choosing the possessive word. If the owner is it, use its. If the owner is they, use their.
A second useful test is to expand possible contractions. If you can replace the word with “it is” or “it has,” the correct spelling is it’s, not its. If you can replace it with “they are,” use they’re, not their.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| its | Possessive determiner | Belonging to or associated with one nonhuman entity | The museum updated its exhibit. |
| their | Possessive determiner or pronoun | Belonging to or associated with they | The visitors left their bags outside. |
How to Use Its
Its is a possessive determiner used before a noun. It indicates that something belongs to, forms part of, or is associated with a singular nonhuman entity. Common antecedents include animals, machines, businesses, countries, organizations, and abstract concepts.
Although animals can be referred to with gendered pronouns when their sex is known, its is standard when the animal’s sex is unknown, irrelevant, or not being personified. In formal and casual writing, place its directly before the possessed noun.
Example 1: The company revised its privacy policy.
Example 2: The bird spread its wings.
Example 3: The computer restarted after its software update.
Etymology of the Word Its
Its developed in English as the possessive form of it. Earlier English often used his for neuter nouns, but its began appearing in the late sixteenth century and gradually became the standard possessive form for the neuter pronoun it. The apostrophe-free spelling distinguishes it from the contraction it’s.
How to Use Their
Their is a possessive determiner used before a noun and a possessive pronoun when the noun is omitted. It traditionally refers to something belonging to or associated with two or more people or things. For example, “The students opened their books” uses their because the owner, students, is plural.
Their is also widely used with singular they. This usage is appropriate when a person’s gender is unknown, when gender is irrelevant, or when an individual uses they/them pronouns. It is accepted in contemporary standard English and is common in both professional and everyday writing.
Example 1: The employees returned to their desks.
Example 2: Someone left their umbrella by the door.
Example 3: Jordan said their presentation was ready.
Etymology of the Word Their
Their comes from Old Norse forms related to þeir, meaning “they,” and þeira, meaning “their.” The word entered Middle English through contact between Norse-speaking and English-speaking communities. It eventually replaced older English possessive forms and became the standard possessive form of they.
Related Concepts
Understanding pronouns, antecedents, and contractions makes the difference between its and their much easier to apply.
- Possessive determiners: Words such as its, their, my, and your show ownership or association and usually appear before a noun.
- Antecedents: An antecedent is the noun or noun phrase that a pronoun refers to. The number and meaning of the antecedent determine whether its or their is appropriate.
- Singular they: Singular they refers to one person without specifying gender or to a person who uses they/them pronouns. Its possessive form is their.
- Contractions: It’s means “it is” or “it has,” while they’re means “they are.” Neither contraction expresses possession.
Examples from Media and Literature
Writers in literature, journalism, film, and public communication use these words according to the number and identity of the antecedent.
- Animal stories: A narrative about a single animal may describe “the fox and its den,” using its for the fox’s possession.
- Nature writing: A documentary script might explain that “the plant closes its leaves at night,” using its for one plant.
- News reporting: A report about a corporation may state that “the company announced its quarterly results.”
- Fictional dialogue: A character may say, “Someone forgot their coat,” using singular their when the person is unidentified.
- Contemporary novels and films: A character who uses singular they may be described with sentences such as “Alex placed their keys on the table.”
Its Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| belonging to it | A phrase expressing possession by one nonhuman entity |
| of the animal | A phrase that identifies an animal as the possessor |
| of the organization | A phrase identifying an organization as the possessor |
Their Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| belonging to them | A phrase expressing possession by multiple people or things |
| of the people | A phrase identifying people as the possessors |
| of the group | A phrase identifying a group as the possessor |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Should I use “its” or “their” for a company?
Use its when referring to one company as an organization: “The company changed its policy.” Use their when referring to the people within the company: “The employees shared their ideas.”
Question 2: Is “their” correct for one person?
Yes. Singular their is standard when a person’s gender is unknown or irrelevant, or when the person uses singular they: “Each customer should keep their receipt.”
Question 3: What is the difference between “its” and “it’s”?
Its expresses possession, as in “The cat cleaned its paw.” It’s is a contraction of “it is” or “it has,” as in “It’s raining” or “It’s been repaired.”
Conclusion
Its refers to possession by one nonhuman entity, while their refers to possession by plural owners or by a singular person associated with they. Check the antecedent before choosing, and remember that its has no apostrophe when it expresses possession. Pro Tip: Distinguishing these commonly confused words demonstrates careful editing and strengthens your professional reputation.
