Speaking of the "apostrophe of omission," why is it so difficult to get "it's" correct?

To many moron’s?

It is not; no; no.

Semicolons on the other hand.

Its not that difficult.

The iPhone automatically makes “it’s” a contraction, so when using a gender-neutral possessive pronoun, I have to correct its auto-correction!

I think sometimes it’s just a mistake. I’ve made that error before, but it’s not because I don’t know the difference; sometimes I just make a mistake. That’s the problem with English and all its homophones. Makes it a lot easier to make mistakes.

It’s is one of the easier ones, though, don’t you think? It is easy to stretch it out to the original intent.

@gailcalled

Yeah, same with you’re/your. I still say you’re/your is the easiest, but I’m biased because I’m one of those people who pronounces those differently so I’ll pretty much never make the mistake.

Read this – funny, and a good explanation in a cartoon. (courtesy of theoatmeal.com)

How to Use an Apostrophe

@JasonsMom08: I just bookmarked it. But it means that I am not the only one driven crazy by the issue.

Gus says people are stupid.

@gailcalled – No way, you know what bothers me? People who use “to” instead of “too” incorrectly. They’ll write “I love that book, to” instead of “I love that book, too” and my head is ready to explode.

@eponymoushipster: MIlo here; I haven’t had any stimulating conversations with monkeys recently either.

Gus here: just had some chinese food last night. your cousin was delicious in the brown sauce, though i have a bit of tail in my teeth.

Dear Gus; I am thrilled that you still have some teeth. xox Milo

@gailcalled as you probably know yourself, they’re removable.

Hey, Gus; As it happens, I have all my teeth (as does my almost 95 year old mother). And Milo got complimented on his gums yesterday at the vet’s.

(I feel better. An insult a day keeps the doctor away. What is that monkey wearing, anyway?)

@gailcalled catskin

I created for myself, a mnemonic device to help me remember. It hasn’t failed me yet. Whenever I find myself about to use “it’s,” I imagine that I’m writing a formal paper (you know, one of those back in high school in which your teacher expressly forbade the use of contractions?). If I’m trying to say “it is,” I tell myself, “If you’re using ‘it’s,’ you’d better not be.”

It all makes sense in my head, and it works. For me.