its very small

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "its very small" is not correct in written English; it should be "it's very small" with an apostrophe.
You can use it when describing the size of an object or concept that is notably small. Example: "The ant is so tiny that it's very small compared to the other insects in the garden."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

The IUCN lists the species as "Vulnerable", because "its very small range leaves it susceptible to chance events, such as cyclones and the introduction of alien predators".

Wikipedia

Similarly, the word "penis" was removed from a Radio 3 programme broadcast late at night, although it might be thought that its very small but extremely grown-up audience was unlikely to blanch at the mention of something they are statistically likely either to possess or to have seen.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

6– 8 Owing to its very small amount of radiation and short procedure time it is ideal for use in children.

BMJ Open

Liposomal daunorubicin (DaunoXome®; Gilead Sciences, Inc., Forest City, CA, USA) provides extended circulation with its very small size (~45 nm) and its rigid bilayer, and it is clearly active against Kaposi's sarcoma and other tumors [ 4].

Breast Cancer Research

Parm opens its very small littlenecks with a knife.

The New York Times

Only the speedometer — with its very small numbers and orange illumination — is out of character with the legible and easy-to-use controls.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

But neutrinos also allow us to observe the universe at its very smallest scales — far smaller than those that can be probed even at the Large Hadron Collider, in Geneva, which, three years ago, discovered the Higgs boson.

The New Yorker

But neutrinos also allow us to observe the universe at its very smallest scales far smaller than those that can be probed even at the Large Hadron Collider, in Geneva, which, three years ago, discovered the Higgs boson.

The New Yorker

These findings could help scientists explain the universe from its very smallest to its biggest scales.

Huffington Post

Even if its something very small, it makes a difference to how someones feeling, which is great!

WikiHow

That renders Hamas' chances of bending because of the assassination of one of its leaders very small.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct possessive form "its" or the contraction "it's" to ensure grammatical accuracy. When referring to the size of something, "it's" is the correct choice as it means "it is".

Common error

Avoid using "its" when you mean "it is". "Its" indicates possession (e.g., "The dog wagged its tail"), while "it's" is a contraction of "it is" (e.g., "It's very small").

Linguistic Context

The phrase functions as a descriptive statement, aiming to provide information about the size of something. It directly expresses that an object or concept possesses minimal dimensions. Ludwig's examples illustrate this across diverse contexts, from describing physical objects to abstract concepts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "its very small" appears across diverse contexts—from scientific research to news reporting—it is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing should be "it's very small", where "it's" is the contraction of "it is". Ludwig highlights this discrepancy, noting the prevalence of the incorrect form despite its grammatical inaccuracy. To avoid confusion, remember that "its" denotes possession, while "it's" combines "it is". When describing the diminutive size of something, using "it's very small" ensures both clarity and correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

It is extremely small

Emphasizes the smallness using "extremely" instead of "very".

It is quite small

Uses "quite" as a more understated alternative to "very".

It is really tiny

Replaces "small" with "tiny" for added emphasis.

It's of a miniature size

Uses a more descriptive and formal tone.

It is of negligible size

Implies the size is so small it's almost insignificant.

It has a minimal footprint

Focuses on the space it occupies being small.

It's very compact

Highlights the smallness in relation to efficiency and space-saving.

It is a small-scale thing

Indicates the size of an operation or project.

It is undersized

Suggests it's smaller than the usual or expected size.

It is micro

Uses a prefix to indicate extreme smallness.

FAQs

What is the correct way to write "it's very small"?

The correct way is with an apostrophe, as "it's very small", because "it's" is the contraction of "it is".

When should I use "its" versus "it's"?

"Its" is a possessive pronoun, indicating ownership (e.g., the dog wagged "its tail"). "It's" is a contraction of "it is" or "it has" (e.g., "it is raining" = it's raining).

Are there alternatives to saying "it's very small"?

Yes, you could say "it is quite small", "it is extremely small", or "it is tiny", depending on the context and the level of emphasis you want to convey.

What does "it's" mean in the phrase "it's very small"?

In the phrase "it's very small", "it's" is a contraction of "it is", so the sentence means "it is very small".