The rule is: the word 'it's' {with apostrophe} stands for 'it is' or 'it has'. If the word does not stand for 'it is' or 'it has' then what you require is 'its'. This is extremely easy to grasp. Getting your itses mixed up is the greatest solecism in the world of punctuation. No matter that you have a PhD and have read all of Henry James twice. If you still persist in writing, 'Good food at it's best', you deserve to be struck by lightning, hacked up on the spot and buried in an unmarked grave.
The distinction between "it's" and "its" is a fundamental rule of punctuation. "It's" is a contraction for "it is" or "it has," while "its" indicates possession. Understanding this difference is straightforward, yet many continue to misuse these terms, leading to significant errors in writing. This mix-up is often regarded as one of the most notable blunders in punctuation and grammar.
Lynne Truss, in her book "Eats, Shoots & Leaves," emphasizes the importance of using these terms correctly, suggesting that even highly educated individuals can falter. She humorously highlights the absurdity of such mistakes, implying that those who fail to grasp this rule deserve severe consequences. This underscores the critical nature of proper punctuation in conveying meaning clearly in writing.
