The words “it’s” and “its” are commonly confused, but they have different meanings and uses:

1. “It’s” is a contraction, which means it is formed by combining two words. It is the contraction of “it is” or “it has.” The apostrophe in “it’s” represents the missing letter(s).

Example: It’s a beautiful day. (This means “It is a beautiful day.”)

2. “Its” is a possessive pronoun, indicating ownership or association. It shows that something belongs to or is associated with “it.”

Example: The dog wagged its tail. (This means the tail belongs to the dog.)

To differentiate between the two, remember that “it’s” always means “it is” or “it has,” while “its” is used to show possession or association.