The document provides guidance on commonly confused words: 1. It discusses the differences between its/it's, your/you're, and there/they're/their, explaining when to use the possessive versus contraction form. 2. It recommends checking your writing for these words and ruling out contractions first by substituting in the combined words. 3. The key is to familiarize yourself with these commonly mixed up words and not let them trick you on assessments.

1. Monday’s Morsel
A Bite-Sized Bit of EOC Prep

2. Some Commonly
Confused Words
These pairs or sets of words are often
confused and used incorrectly:
it's/its
your/you're
their/they're/there

3. Its / It’s
• Its is a possessive pronoun showing that it owns
something.
The cat licked its foot.
Here is the computer and its power cord.
• It’s is a contraction combing the words it and is.
It’s almost lunch time!
If you don’t want to eat your pancakes, it’s OK.
If you can replace its/it’s with “it is” then you need
the one with the apostrophe.
If not, then you need the one without.

4. Your / You’re
• Your is a possessive pronoun showing that you own
something.
This is your bike.
Your dog is running away.
• You’re is a contraction combining the words you and
are.
You’re my best friend.
I don’t believe you’re telling the truth.
If you can replace your/you’re with “you are” then you
need the one with the apostrophe.
If not, then you need the one without.

5. There / They’re / Their
• There is a pronoun indicating place.
Put the radio there.
How can you just sit there without moving?
• They’re is a contraction combining the words they and
are.
They’re going to the mall with me.
Do you believe they’re dating?
• Their is a possessive pronoun indicating that they own
something.
This is their car.
On their first date they went to see a movie.
It’s easiest to rule out the contraction (does replacing the
word with “they are” make sense?) and then the pronoun
indicating place (are you talking about a place?).

6. How to Answer These Questions
Correctly
1. Always double check these words for
accuracy in your writing and when editing.
2. Rule out the contractions first by substituting
in the two words being combined.
3. Be familiar with these commonly confused
words and don’t let them trick you!