Homophones. You learned the word, aptly enough, in grammar school. “Watch out,” the teachers warned, waggling their chalky index finger, “for words that sound the same but are spelled differently.” It’s vs. its; they’re vs. there vs. their; hear vs. here; wear vs. where. Some stick with you better than others. Here’s the run-down on the most evil two of the rhyming monsters.
It’s: Contraction of “it is.”
“It’s not going to rain today.”
Its: Singular possessive of “it.’
“The tree lost its last leaves in October.”
They’re: Contraction of “they are.”
“They’re going to the movies tomorrow.”
There: That place that isn’t here.
“Put that can of paint down over there.”
Their: Possessive of “them.”
“That’s their car—I wouldn’t touch it if I were you.”
Still confused? Have other questions about grammar?
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