Its vs. it's: the SAT reading & writing trap
Short answer: Say "it is" in its place. Sounds wrong? Use its.
The trap, in one question
After a slow year, the company cut ___ prices.
Tempting answer: it's ("it is prices"?)
Correct answer: its (possessive, no apostrophe)
How to spot it in 3 seconds
Say "it is" in its place. Sounds wrong? Use its.
FAQ
What is the its vs. it's trap on the SAT?
Example: After a slow year, the company cut ___ prices. The tempting answer is it's ("it is prices"?); the correct answer is its (possessive, no apostrophe).
How do you avoid the its vs. it's trap?
Say "it is" in its place. Sounds wrong? Use its.
More Reading & Writing traps
RW1Semicolon = two full sentencesRW2Colon needs a full sentence before itRW3Comma spliceRW4Dashes come in matching pairs
← Extra info needs commas on both sides · Subject–verb agreement →
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