Its vs. Their

ITS

adjective.

The possessive form of it. Used as a modifier before a noun: “Cal State Fullerton won its fourth match of the season Friday night.”

Its is the possessive form of the pronoun it and is correctly written without an apostrophe. It should not be confused with the contraction it's (for it is or it has), which should always have an apostrophe.

THEIR

adjective. The possessive form of they. Used as a modifier before a noun: “The Titans won their fourth match of the season Friday night.”

Usage Note: Their is the plural possessive form of the pronoun they.

McHINTS TO REMEMBER IN SPORTSWRITING:

Its refers to the team name or sport: Cal State Fullerton. Utah State. Cal State Fullerton’s women’s volleyball team. Utah State’s women’s volleyball team. Each is a singular references to proper names.

Their refers to “nicknames,” which are ALMOST ALWAYS plural:

Titans. Aggies. Cal State Fullerton Titans. Utah State Aggies.

A correct opening paragraph:

The women’s volleyball team at Cal State Fullerton won its fourth match of the season Friday night, but it wasn’t easy. The Titans rallied from a one-game deficit to take a 25-30, 32-30, 30-28, 26-30, 15-13 Big West Conference victory over Utah State at Titan Gym in front of a crowd of 326. The win snapped a four-match losing streak by Fullerton (3-9, 2-2). Utah State (2-7, 0-4) has lost five in a row.

Portions adapted from: The American Heritage ® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.