Tip 635: Troublesome Words One

From the Writing Workshops: Words that Will Get You in Trouble

We’re not talking of calling someone a “hockey puck” or bragging about the Giants while you’re visited Los Angeles. We’re talking about words that can get you in trouble if you use them incorrectly. 

We talked about this earlier (about four hundred tips ago).   

Our first tip focuses on apostrophes. 

It’s and Its

It’s is always a contraction of it is. Always. Its is “belonging to it.” Possession. 

When in doubt, separate the contraction. Use it is instead of it’s. If it is doesn’t work, don’t use it’s:

We opened the computer and checked it’s hard drive. 

We opened the computer and checked it is hard drive. 

Nope. That doesn’t work. 

So it should be—

We opened the computer and checked its hard drive.

Who’s and Whose

Another contraction. Who’s is always a contraction of who is. 

Again, if you’re in doubt, separate the contraction. Use who is instead of who’s. If who is doesn’t work, don’t use who’s:

Who’s going to Springfield next week?

Who is going to Springfield next week? 

Yes. That works, so who’s is correct.  

Whose is “belonging to who.” Let’s say you’re not sure of your choice:  

Whose flash drive is this?   

Who’s flash drive is this? 

Again, separate the contraction: 

“Who is flash drive is this?”

Nope. That doesn’t work, so use Whose. 

Let us know your thoughts. We love this stuff.

Next week, more words that can get you in trouble.  This is fun.