How to use “its” or “it’s”, “their” or “there”, “site” or “sight”

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By wytetyger059
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These little words, and many others, are some of the most confusing in the English language. So, how do you tell which one to use?

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Step 1

“its” or “it’s”?

Well, “its” is the possessive form now. And “it’s” is a contraction that stands for “it is,” “it was,” or “it has.”

I say now because I just found the word detective (see resources). He explains that “it’s” used to be the contraction and the possessive and “tis” was the word used for “it is,” etc.

A simple test to tell which one to use is to use them in a sentence. It’s (it is) a nice day. The dog has its (possessive) bone. If” it is,” “it was,” or “it has” will fit, then you use it’s. If not, then the other.
Step 2

“Their” or “there”?

This is pretty simple as well. “Their” is used for living things, like “It’s their car (meaning it belongs to them). There is a place, as in “put it there.”
Step 3

“Site” or “sight”?

A site is a place, like “the site of the future hospital.” A sight, of course, is something you see. “What a sight the Grand Canyon is.”
Step 4

Because these two words are spelled differently but sound the same, they are called homophones. Check out the resources for other homophones, homonyms and homographs (he explains it). He also has a poem by Janet E. Byford, An Ode to the Spelling Chequer. Check it out. It’s funny.