its official

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "its official" is not correct in written English; it should be "it's official" with an apostrophe.
You can use it to indicate that something has been formally confirmed or established. Example: "After months of negotiations, it's official: the merger has been finalized."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It had its official opening on May 19.

The New York Times

In May, it celebrated its official grand opening.

The New York Times

You can download it from its official website.

WikiHow

Could it be the same at its official network?

Huffington Post

It's seeking new members before its official launch in November.

Science Magazine

Its official faith is Islam.

The New Yorker

Its official!

The New York Times

Oklahoma made English its official language.

The New York Times

(Its official name was Academic Games).

The New Yorker

Its official death toll is just 59.

The Economist

English is its official language.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always double-check your use of "its" versus "it's". "Its" indicates possession, while "it's" is a contraction of "it is". In most cases where you intend to convey that something is official, you'll need the contraction "it's official".

Common error

Avoid using the possessive pronoun "its" when you mean the contraction "it's". For example, instead of writing "Its official now", write "It's official now" to correctly indicate that something is confirmed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "its official" functions as a statement or announcement. However, according to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically incorrect. The correct usage would be "it's official", where "it's" is a contraction of "it is."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "its official" appears frequently, it is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "it's official", using the contraction of "it is". This phrase is commonly used to announce confirmations or formal declarations, with a neutral register that suits news, media, and general announcements. Ludwig AI highlights the grammatical error, so remember to use "it's" instead of "its" to ensure accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is official

Corrects the grammatical error by using the contraction "it is" instead of the possessive "its".

it's confirmed

Replaces "official" with "confirmed" to indicate that something has been verified.

it is confirmed

Expresses confirmation directly without using "official".

it's been verified

Emphasizes the verification process, suggesting that something has been checked and found to be true.

it is established

Indicates that something has been firmly recognized or accepted.

it has been finalized

Suggests that something has reached its final stage and is now complete and official.

it's a done deal

An idiomatic expression indicating that an agreement or arrangement has been definitively made.

the decision is final

Indicates that a decision has been made and cannot be changed.

the results are in

Commonly used to announce that the outcome of something is now known and official.

the word is out

An informal way of saying that information has been officially released or has become widely known.

FAQs

What is the correct way to write "its official"?

The correct way to write it is "it's official". The term "it's" is a contraction of "it is", used to indicate that something is confirmed or established. Using "its" is incorrect because "its" indicates possession.

What can I say instead of "it's official"?

You can use alternatives like "it is confirmed", "it's been verified", or "it is established" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "its official" or "it's official"?

"It's official" is the correct form. "Its official" is grammatically incorrect because it uses the possessive pronoun "its" instead of the contraction "it's" (it is).

What's the difference between "its official" and "it's official"?

"Its" is a possessive pronoun, indicating ownership (e.g., the company announced its official policy). "It's official" is a contraction of "it is official", meaning something has been formally confirmed or announced.