INK is designed around achieving the highest INK Score possible for your target keyword(s). Your INK Score indicates how relevant your content is to what your audience is searching. What’s more, it lets you know how well you can expect your content to perform against your stiffest competitors.
Conclusions: What Did The Data Study Show?
🚀 There is a clear relationship between a high INK Score and a high Google ranking position.
🚀 Google ranks content based on relevancy. INK knows what relevant content looks like and how to get there. Therefore, using INK helps create relevant content more likely to rank.
✔️ Content that achieves an INK Score of 80% is relevant.
🚀 Content that achieves an INK Score of 91% is 2x more likely to rank in the top 10 of Google compared to the average relevant, top 100 articles.
🚀 Content that achieves an INK Score of 94% is 3x more likely to rank in the top 10 of Google compared to the average relevant, top 100 articles.
🚀 Content that achieves an INK Score above 97% is at least 4x more likely to rank in the top 10 of Google compared to the average relevant, top 100 articles.
Know. Don’t guess. INK helps make sure your content is at least 4x more likely to rank and be seen by your target audience.
Understanding how well SEO tools work is a difficult task. Writers and content creators have a lot of options to help make sure their content is as visible as possible to target audiences. So, how can you tell which tools actually help you rank?
We conducted an extensive data study to test how effectively INK helps content rank. Specifically, we tested how an article’s INK Score relates to its ranking position.
In short, we set out to answer this question: Does a higher INK Score indicate a higher Google ranking position?
1. Why Should I Trust the INK Score When it Comes to SEO?
Your INK Score is weighted against the content already ranking competitively in Google results. Our data study proved that the higher the INK Score, the higher the chance of ranking in the top 10 Google results.
We know that the top 10 Google search results reflect the most relevant content for a given search intent. INK Scores are, in part, a clear measure of how relevant your content is.
FACT: The higher your INK SEO Score is, the higher your content’s chance of landing in Google search’s Top 10.
Of course, dozens of factors determine how high content ranks in search engine results. These include how high a site’s domain authority is, how competitive the target keyword is, how fast the site is, and many more.
However, one of the main factors is how relevant your content is to what people are searching.
For this reason, how high your INK Score is can be the difference between good and excellent content.
When you achieve a 100% INK Score, you content is 4x more likely to rank among Google’s top 10 search results.
2. What INK Score Should I Aim For?
Minimum INK Score: 80%
This score means your content is relevant to the keyword(s) and topics you are targeting.
We would consider this a B grade. It’s above average, but there’s room for improvement.
Great INK Score: 91 – 96%
This range means your content is about 2-3x more likely to rank in the top 10 Google results compared to the average relevant, top 100 articles.
This would be like getting an A- grade. You’re better than most, but you still have some work to do in order to be at the top of the class.
Excellent INK Score: 97 – 99%
Once you achieve an INK Score of 97%, your content is at least 4x more likely to rank in the top 10 Google results compared to the average relevant, top 100 articles.
This shows that the closer you are to 100%, the stronger your chances of ranking competitively are.
This would be like getting an A grade. But the closer you are to 100%, the more likely you are to be at the top of the class.
Ideal INK Score: 100%
This is the maximum INK Score.
Once you achieve a 100% INK Score, your content is almost 4.5x more likely to rank in the top 10 Google results compared to the average relevant, top 100 articles.
This score gives you the strongest chance of ranking competitively in Google results.
This would be like getting a perfect A+ grade. Being at the top of the class is very likely.
An INK SEO Score of 91% to 96% means that your content is 2-3x more likely to rank in the top 10 of Google SERP.
3. When Can I Stop Optimizing my Content in INK?
Achieving an INK Score of 97% or higher means your content is highly relevant to your target keyword(s) and is 4x more likely to rank in the top 10 of Google results. Therefore, 97% is an ideal target.
To go back to our school example (and what some of our teachers would say when we got a 97% but wanted a higher grade), “an A is an A is an A.”
We always recommend working to achieve a score as close to 100% as possible. INK Scores closer to 100% are more than four times more likely to rank in the top 10 Google ranking positions. Ultimately, you’ll have to strike the ideal balance between your time, effort, and ranking potential.
That said, pushing yourself to achieve a score of 100% only helps put your content in the best position to dominate search results. And gives you the peace of mind that your content is as optimized as possible.
Data Study: The Details
We tested how well INK works for SEO by comparing INK Scores with Google rank positions.
Comma usage can be tricky, and one question that pops up repeatedly is: When to put a comma beforebut? This guide will help you understand how to use commas before and after the conjunction but. We’ll also share a few other tricks of the trade to make using commas easier.
Main Comma Before But Takeaways:
You need to put a comma beforebut if but connects two independent clauses.
Independent clauses can stand alone as a sentence. They must express a complete thought.
A dependent clause doesn’t express a complete thought, so it cannot stand alone as a sentence.
A comma before but isn’t necessary if both independent clauses are simple and closely related.
When the but links dependent and independent clauses, no comma is required.
The only time a comma should follow but is when the but precedes an interrupter.
An interrupter is a phrase that’s used to create emphasis in a sentence.
The rules of English grammar can be tricky, and comma usage can be the trickiest of all. One recurring comma-related question is when to use a comma beforebut. Thankfully, the guidelines for this particular grammar conundrum are simple.
Do You Use a Comma Before But?
The answer is yes, but only if you are joining two independent clauses. An independent clause can stand by itself as a complete sentence. There are two ways to join two independent clauses in one sentence: using a semicolon or coordinating conjunction like “but.”
If you choose the latter, a comma should always precede “but.” The comma helps show where one independent clause ends, and the other begins. Adding a comma before “but” is a rule applicable to all other coordinating conjunctions, not just “but.” See the example sentences below:
(Independent clause 1)Johnny is a good basketball player.
(Independent clause 2)He’s not a good swimmer.
Johnny is a good basketball player, he’s not a good swimmer.
Johnny is a good basketball player he’s not a good swimmer.
Johnny is a good basketball player but he’s not a good swimmer.
Johnny is a good basketball player, but he’s not a good swimmer.
As a general rule, you need to put a comma before but if you’re connecting two independent clauses.
Defining an Independent Clause
An independent clause is a phrase that can stand alone as a sentence. Although it may represent a single part of a complex sentence, it should express a complete thought. An independent clause must include a verb and a subject.
Lisa loved dogs, and she knew the names of every four-legged resident of her neighborhood.
In this example, “Lisa loved dogs” is an independent clause. It contains a subject and a verb and conveys a complete thought. “She knew the names of every four-legged resident of her neighborhood” is also an independent clause for the same reason.
Exploring Sentences Containing Two Independent Clauses
Sentences may contain two independent clauses as long as they’re punctuated properly. Without correct punctuation, two independent clauses strung together form a run-on sentence.
There are several ways to join two independent clauses in a sentence correctly.
Separating them with a semicolon.
Joining them through a conjunction such as or, but, or and.
Examples:
Jennifer loves reading horror novels.
She doesn’t like romance.
There are several ways to join these two clauses.
Jennifer loves horror novels, she doesn’t like romance.
This is a comma splice. It’s grammatically incorrect.
Jennifer loves horror novels; she doesn’t like romance.
In this example, a semicolon effectively connects these two related independent clauses.
Jennifer loves horror novels, but she doesn’t like romances.
This example shows but as a conjunction between these two independent clauses. A comma is required here.
Where to Place the Comma
If you’re connecting independent clauses with a semicolon, you don’t need a comma. If you’re joining two independent clauses with a conjunction, such as but, a comma is required. The comma belongs after the last word in the initial clause, before but (or whichever conjunction you’ve used).
Commasare important, but they can be difficult to use.
In this example, “commasare important” and “they can be difficult to use” are both independent clauses. They can stand on their own as sentences.
When you Shouldn’t use a Comma Before But
The rule of thumb here is simple: unless but joins two independent clauses, you don’t need a comma. In some sentences, independent clauses are joined to dependent clauses. A comma is not required in these instances.
1. Defining a Dependent Clause
Although a dependent clause contains a subject and verb, it can’t stand alone as a sentence because it doesn’t express a complete thought. These phrases can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.
Word markers often signal dependent clauses. These may include:
after
although
unless
when
whether
since
as if
in order to
whatever
2. Punctuating Sentences That Have Dependent Clauses
If the but in your sentence joins dependent and independent clauses, no comma is necessary.
I told you about the party twice, but still didn’t get a response.
I told you about the party twice but still didn’t get a response.
In this example, “still didn’t get a response” is a dependent clause. It can’t stand alone as a sentence. No comma is needed before the but here.
Other Exceptions
Occasionally, you’ll encounter a joining of two short independent clauses. If the clauses are simple and demonstrate an obvious connection, then no comma is necessary. Although it isn’t grammatically incorrect to use a comma in this instance, it can create a sentence with poor flow. Take for instance the examples below:
She slept, but she’s still tired.
She slept but she’s still tired.
The Flip Side: When to Put a Comma After But
The answer: rarely.
A comma should only be used after but when an interrupter follows it. An interrupter is a literary device that’s intended to enhance style. It can be used to evoke emotion, set the tone or pace of a sentence, or emphasize important thoughts or information.
Interrupters may also be called insertions or parenthetical expressions.
He wanted to take his dog to the park, but, of course, it wasn’t safe with the alien invaders everywhere.
In this example, “of course” serves as an interrupter, so a comma is required after the but. This example also includes a comma beforebut since it’s joining two independent clauses.
Commas, Commas, Everywhere: A Brief Conclusion
Grammar rules, including but not limited to commas, can be challenging at best and downright impossible to understand at worst. By exploring individual questions such as when to place a comma beforebut, you’ll learn how to use this grammatical go-to in no time. No buts about it.
Quick Grammar Quiz About Comma Before But
Comma Before But Question #1
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is TRUE. The comma shows where one clause ends and the other begins.
But Comma Question #2
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is D. An independent clause contains a subject and a verb, expresses a complete thought, and can stand alone as a sentence.
Comma Before But Question #3
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is A. This sentence is a comma splice.
Comma Question #4
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is B. You only need a comma when joining two independent clauses with a conjunction.
Comma Before But Question #5
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is B. Since dependent clauses don't convey a complete thought, they can't stand alone in a sentence.
Comma After But Question #6
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is D. An interrupter is a literary device that's intended to enhance style. It's also known as an insertion or a parenthetical expression.
Both was and were are correct forms of the verb “to be.” However, when to use was vs. were depends on whether you’re talking about something imaginary or something real.
Hypothetical situations need the subjunctive mood, so you should use were regardless of the speaker’s point of view. However, situations that actually happened in the past need the indicative mood. This means subject-verb agreement comes into play, so you should use was with I/he/she (She was here) but were with you/we/they (You/we/they were here).
(indicative mood = reality)Shewas the national women’s champion for eight years straight.
(indicative mood = reality)Youwere right about bringing an umbrella.
(subjunctive mood = imaginary)If youwere to tell him no, what do you think he’d say?
(indicative mood = reality)There was a pan of roasted vegetables in the oven for dinner.
(subjunctive mood = imaginary)If Iwere a boy, I wouldn’t have to answer that question.
When to Use Was vs. Were at a Glance:
Should you use was or were? This is a grammar question that even native English speakers struggle to answer correctly. Let’s look at the easiest way to know the difference between was and were. What’s more, you’ll see was vs. were example sentences and learn how to correctly use this irregular verb.
Subjunctive Mood: Hypothetical situations with the verb “to be”
I were
you were
he were
she were
it were
we were
you were
they were
Past (reality) vs. subjunctive (imaginary) conjugations of “to be.”
In this way, the difference between was and were comes down to describing something that actually happened in the past vs. an imaginary situation that never happened at all. Moreover, it also depends on who is speaking. Finally, subject-verb agreement also comes into play.
Was and were are past tense versions of the verb to be. They are both correct, depending on the context.
3 Easy Steps That Tell you When to use Was vs. Were
Or, are we talking about an imaginary situation that can’t be real?
2. If it actually occurred in the past:
Use was with the first and third person singular points of view:
I was
She was
He was
It was
You were
But, use were with the second person (you) or third person (they) plural points of view. This helps ensure correct subject-verb agreement.
You were
They were
3. If the situation is imaginary and can’t be real:
Were is the only correct option. As such, use were for every point of view.
If I were a professor, I would be eligible for the grant.
She always wished she were born in ancient Rome.
If there were more children, we’d need to hire another teacher.
I bet Grandma and Grandpa would consider space tourism if they were a little younger.
[example] In the off-chance that we were lottery winners, we’d donate at least half of the sum to science.
Why Second Conditional Uses Were?
A second conditional, or type 2 conditional sentence, describes hypothetical or imaginary situations, like dreams and wishes. In some instances, those situations could happen in the future, but they most likely won’t.
Below is the structure for a second conditional statement:
If + verb to be + condition
If I were a child again.
In the statement above, we used “were” instead of “was.” That’s even if the latter is considered the proper past simple form of the verb to be to go with the pronoun “I.”
We do this because we’re talking about an imaginary situation. No one can reverse time and be a child again, right? That’s just impossible. By saying “If I were,” we’re changing the mood of the verb to be from indicative to subjunctive.
The indicative mood describes real situations or facts. On the other hand, the subjunctive mood describes situations that are hypothetical or are not real. For second conditional statements, we always use were.
(indicative mood)She is/was dancing.
(subjunctive mood)If she were only a dancer.
“Was” Usually Refers to the Past
When you see the word “was,” we’re most likely talking about something that previously occurred.
She was driving on the expressway when she saw the band’s tour bus go by.
It was the worst party he’d ever been to until they rolled out the cake.
In other words, the rule for was/were typically comes down to singular vs. plural when using the past tense of the verb “to be.”
However, as with most grammatical rules in English, there is an exception here.
Which is Correct: “If I Was” or “If I Were”
Most statements that include if are subjunctive. In these cases, we use were. Notwithstanding, there is one exception for the first person point of view: I.
On one side, we have was in the indicative mood to indicate reality.
On the other, we have were in the subjunctive mood to refer to imaginary or hypothetical situations.
But, there is also a third option in the middle: what should you use when you aren’t sure if something is real or imaginary?
In this case, “If I was” is the grammatically correct choice. In other words, when it’s not clear if something is real or hypothetical, “I was” is correct.
If I was wrong, then I’m sorry.
In the above example, the speaker isn’t sure if they made a mistake or not. This situation might be imaginary, but it might also be real. As a result, the speaker can’t use were since this option is for purely imaginary situations.
Therefore, we use “If I was” to show this doubt grammatically.
I’m sorry if I weren’t polite back there.
I’m sorry if I wasn’t polite back there.
Now, let’s compare the “If I was vs. were” in action:
(Hypothetical)If I were living in Los Angeles, then I would drive to work.
The above example expresses a purely imaginary situation: I don’t live in Los Angeles, so I don’t drive to work. I show that the scenario isn’t real by using the verb “to be” with the subjunctive mood were.
(Uncertainty)If I was living in Los Angeles at that time, thenI would have driven to work.
Conversely, the above example expresses doubt. For instance, I did live in Los Angeles in the past, but I don’t anymore. Additionally, I used to drive, but I don’t anymore.
If I don’t remember exactly when I moved or when I stopped driving, I should use the if I was construction to express this doubt to my audience.
The difference between was and were comes down to describing something that actually happened in the past vs. an imaginary situation that never happened at all.
When “Were” is Past Tense and When it’s Subjunctive
Was tends to hang out exclusively with the past tense in the indicative mood. However, were can express the real past tense in the indicative mood or an imaginary situation in the subjunctive mood. How do you tell the difference?
Were and Past Tense
The trick here is to associate were and the past tense with subject-verb agreement. In other words, whether you should use was vs. were depends on who is speaking.
For example, use was with these points of view:
First person singular = I was
Third person singular = he/she/it was
However, use were with these points of view:
Second person singular = you were
Second person plural = you (all) were
First person plural = wewere
Third person plural = theywere
Should I use Was or Were with There?
Whether to use was or were with therehas to do with subject-verb agreement. When a sentence starts with the word there, the words following the verb are typically the subject. For example, in the sentence “There are oranges on the table,” the subject is oranges. If the subject is singular, then you should use the verb was (“There was an orange…“). Yet, if the subject is plural, then the correct verb to use is were (“There were oranges…“).
There were an unexpected snowstorm on the day they got married.
There was an unexpected snowstorm on the day they got married.
There were three horses standing in the shade beneath the trees that day.
📝 Whether to use was or were depends on several factors, including:
Subjunctive what? Unless you’re a diehard grammarian or advanced polyglot, you’ve probably never heard of subjunctive mood. In simple terms, the phrase describes a verb tense we associate with unreal statements or questions.
Essentially, whereas most statements reveal something that is currently happening or has previously happened, a subjunctive sentence refers to something that hasn’t actually happened. That may be a want, a wish, or a suggestion.
📝 We use the subjunctive mood to express:
Demands
Proposals
Desires
Wishfulness
Hypothetical situations
Possibilities
In both written and spoken English, subjunctive mood usually appears by an indicative verb such aswant, wish, desire, suggest, or recommend. What’s more, sentences that express possibilities often include the word if.
When creating a subjunctive mood, the traditional singular/plural rules for was/were don’t apply. In fact, when it comes to the subjunctive mood, there’s an easy rule for choosing was or were: always choose were.
📝 Phrases used to express subjunctive mood include:
I were
You were
He/she were
It were
They were
This were
That were
If I were shorter, I wouldn’t have to duck every time I went down to the basement.
He acted as if he were the best player on the team, even though he’d barely made the cut.
The researchers wished they were Nobel Prize winners.
If it were easier to win, then it wouldn’t be as rewarding.
You’ll note that none of these examples describes a current reality. Instead, they all describe hypothetical, desired, or imaginary situations. Therefore, we use were regardless of whether the subject is singular or plural to make this departure from reality clear.
Which is Correct Grammatically: If I Was or If I Were?
Both of the phrases if I was and if I were are grammatically correct, but they mean very different things. Therefore, the difference between if I was and if I weredepends on what you are trying to say. First, use if I was for something that might be real, or to express doubt when you’re not sure if something is true (If I was late responding to you, I apologize). Second, use if I were to express something unreal, imaginary, or hypothetical (If I were a dragon…”
Often, the word if introduces subjunctive mood. When a sentence includes the phrase if I was orif I were, grammatists tend to label this subjunctive mood. That means the sentence refers to something that goes against, or is contrary to, the current truth. In other words, the sentence may express a desire, wish, possibility, or hypothetical situation. For subjunctive statements or questions, the grammatically correct phrase is “If I were“.
Was and Were Sentence Examples
Here are examples of was vs. were in a sentence:
When I was 10, I wanted to go to Australia. But, if I were to plan a trip now, I would love to visit Singapore.
There were boxes filled with crayons by the front door of the preschool.
They were telling the truth about who started the fire.Now we know it was all an unfortunate accident.
If you were a little nicer, I might be your friend.
If this were a real check, it would have a watermark.
As a child, he often wished he were taller, so he could reach the cookie jar.
Was and were are both past tense of the verb “to be.” Was is used when referring to first person singular. Were is used when referring to second person singular/plural.
Can you say if I Were?
You can say if I were. In fact, were is typically the correct conjugation of the verb to be in this context. Because this phrase begins with the word if, it’s subjunctive mood. That’s another way of saying it describes a hypothetical or unreal situation. In subjunctive sentences, the correct form of to be is always were.
If I was an airplane pilot, I’d go anywhere I wanted.
If I were an airplane pilot, I’d go anywhere I wanted.
Sometimes I think about what it would be like if I were to stop eating meat.
Don’t tell me what I could do if I were mayor of the city. It’s never going to happen.
If I were more like you, we’d both be in big trouble.
Is If I Were a Boy Grammatically Correct?
If I were a boy is grammatically correct. This construction is correct because it reflects subjunctive mood. In other words, the phrase refers to a hypothetical or unreal situation. In this particular hypothetical, the writer is speculating about what might happen if her gender were different. When you write a sentence using subjunctive mood, you should always conjugate the the verb “to be” as were— regardless of the speaker’s point of view.
If I was a boy, I would totally have a beard.
If I were a boy, I would totally have a beard.
I would probably look like my brotherif I wasa boy.
I would probably look like my brother if I were a boy.
Were vs. Was: a Matter of Style?
It’s also worth noting that more and more writers are opting to use was instead of were in subjunctive sentences. This is particularly true in informal prose. It’s led some grammarians to speculate about the subjunctive were eventually becoming obsolete.
A Brief Was/Were Recap
By following a few basic rules, understanding when to use was and were doesn’t have to leave you with a headache.
When conjugating the verb to be in the past tense, use was when writing in first or third person singular. Use were when writing in second person singular or plural or first-person or third-person plural.
Use were when crafting sentences that involve hypothetical situations, speculation, or wishes. This is known as subjunctive mood and is often identified by the inclusion of the word if.
If a sentence starts with the word there, use was if the subject is singular. Use were if the subject is plural.
Main Was vs. Were Takeaways:
Was and were are past tense versions of the verb to be. They are both correct, depending on the context.
When you want to talk about an imaginary, hypothetical, or unreal situation, use the subjunctive mood were across the board (If I were a dinosaur…).
When you want to talk about reality, follow the normal conjugation for the verb “to be” in the past tense. Use the indicative mood was for I/he/she (She was here) but were with you/we/they (You/we/they were here).
Practice Your Grammar Skills With These Was and Were Exercises
Was and Were Question #1
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is A. “Was” and “were” are past tense versions of the verb “to be.”
Use or When Question #2
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is D. All the factors outlined above can determine whether to use “was” or “when”.
Was vs. Were Question #3
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is WAS. “Was” is the correct choice when writing in first person or third person (he, she, it) singular.
Were vs. Was Question #4
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is WERE. “Were” is correct when writing in the second-person singular, second-person plural, and first and third-person plural.
Was and Were Question #5
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is WERE. Hypothetical situations need the subjunctive mood. So “were” is appropriate.
Was vs. Were Question #6
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is C. A subjunctive sentence refers to something that hasn’t happened.
Were vs. Was Question #7
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is C. Either can be appropriate, depending on the subject-verb agreement.
Was or Were Question #8
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is WAS. The situation occurred in the past, and it’s in first-person singular.
Were or Was Question #9
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is WERE. The situation occurred in the past, and it’s in third-person plural.
Was vs. Were Question #10
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is WERE. The situation is imaginary.
Were vs. Was Question #11
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is WAS. The situation occurred in the past, and it’s in third-person singular.
Was vs. Were Question #12
Correct!Wrong!
The answer is WERE. The situation occurred in the past, and it’s in third-person plural.
Whose vs. who’s: which word is right for your sentence? One is a pronoun, and the other is a contraction. Here, we’ll show you how to remember the difference between these two homophones. Also, you’ll see plenty of examples so you never doubt when to use which.
Main Whose vs. Who’s Takeaways:
Whoseand who’s are homophones but they are not interchangeable.
Whose vs. who’s are both correct but have different functions.
The easiest way to know if you’re using the correct word is to replace the word with who is/who has/who was. If the sentence still makes sense, then who’s is correct. If not, then whose is probably correct.
On one hand, whose describes possession.
Use whose when referencing ownership.
On the other hand, who’s is a contraction of who is or who has.
Use who’s to replace who is or who has in casual conversations where contractions are appropriate.
Whose bike is this?
Who’s coming to the park with us later?
Whose and who’s are not interchangeable. Whose is a pronoun that expresses possession. On the other hand, who’s is a contraction of the phrase “who is.”
Whose vs. Who’s
When we see an apostrophe followed by the letter ‘s,’ we tend to associate this with ownership. And, most of the time, this rule holds true. However, almost every rule in the English language has an exception, and this one is no different.
For example, when it comes to it’s vs. its and whose vs. who’s, the word with the apostrophe ‘s’ is not the possessive one. Rather, it’s a contraction.
Whose and who’s are homophones, meaning these words sound the same. However, they have different spellings, meanings, and functions. On one hand, who’s is a contraction that links the pronoun who with the verb is or has. Like other contractions, it’s appropriate for casual conversations, but should be spelled out in formal writing.
Conversely, whose is a possessive pronoun, which expresses “to whom something belongs.” It often describes a person, but you can also use it for a pet or location.
Whose definition:(pronoun) a question word used to determine which entity is responsible for an item
Who’s definition:(contraction) who is; who was; who has
Who’s on third?
Who is on third?
Whose on third?
Whose is often a replacement for whoor whom. But, watch out; you may need to rephrase your sentence. You can’t necessarily swap the words.
Whose shoes are those?
Who owns those shoes?
To whom do those shoes belong?
Who’s shoes are those?
How to Remember the Difference Between Whose vs. Who’s
Here’s the easiest way to remember the difference between whose vs. who’s. Since who’s is a contraction for the phrases who is and who has, try replacing the word with who is or who has.
If the sentence still makes sense and is it still grammatically correct, then choose the contraction who’s (with the apostrophe ‘s’). Otherwise, whose (without the apostrophe ‘s’) is probably the word you want.
Who’s planning on staying for dinner?
Whose planning on staying for dinner?
Who is planning on staying for dinner?
Whose car is blocking the entrance?
Who is car is blocking the entrance?
Whose car is blocking the entrance?
Whose refers to possession, while who’s is a contraction that means who is or who has.
“Whose” is used to describe an entity that owns or possesses an item.
Who is Contraction in Grammar?
In English grammar, who’s (with the apostrophe ‘s’) is the contraction for who is, not the possessive pronoun whose (without the apostrophe ‘s’). Other examples of contractions, or shortened words made by combining multiple words, include don’t (do not), can’t (can not), you’ve (you have), and I’ll (I will).
Use the contraction who’s in casual speaking and writing. For more formal situations, it’s always best to spell out the contraction.
Who is the tall woman in the long coat?
Who’s the tall woman in the long coat?
My nephew, who has just left for the store, will be back in about an hour.
My nephew, who’s just left for the store, will be back in about an hour.
Whose vs. Who’s Sentences
Here’s how to use whose vs. who’s in a sentence:
Whosecar were you in?
Who’sknocking on my door?
Idon’t know whose keys these are, so I can’t return it.
Who’sstolen my keys?
Whosepresentation did you watch?
I don’t knowwho’sdoing that.
The receptionist asked whose coat was on the couch but none of the guests answered.
Mike, who’s invited me to hissister’s housefor dinner, is a fantastic cook.
She rode home inwhose car?
Whosechild has a fever?
An apostrophe and an ‘s’ usually indicate ownership or possession. However, who’s breaks this rule. It’s a contraction, not a possessive word.
Who’s or Whose Birthday?
The correct answer is: whose birthday. Why? Because whose is a possessive pronoun while who’s is a contraction of the phrases who is and who has. Therefore, the question is really: who does the birthday belong to?
Since this is a question about possession, we know that the possessive pronoun whoseis correct. Confirm this by replacing the word with who is (Who is birthday?). Since the sentence doesn’t make sense, we’re confident that whose is correct.
Whose birthday is it?
Who is birthday is it?
Whose birthday is it?
Whose Name or Who’s Name?
The correct way to phrase this is: whose name, notwho’s name. The real question is about who the name belongs to. In other words, this phrase is about possession. Since whose is a possessive pronoun, it makes more sense than who’s, which is the contraction for the phrases who is and who has.
You can easily check if whose is the correct answer by replacing the word with who is. Does the sentence still make sense? If so, then the contraction who’s is the correct word. If not, then the possessive pronoun whose is correct.
Whose name did the teacher call?
Who is name did the teacher call?
Whose name did the teacher call?
Aside from “who is,” “who’s” is also a contraction for “who was” and “who has.”
Who’s Idea of Whose Idea?
Here, the correct phrasing is whose idea, not who’s idea. The question is actually “to whom does this idea belong” or “who came up with this idea?” As a result, the phrase is about finding out who possesses the idea. Therefore, we need a possessive pronoun like whose instead of a contraction like who is.
You can check that whose is the correct answer by replacing the word with the phrase who is. If the sentence doesn’t make sense, then whose is correct. If the sentence does make sense, then who’s is correct.
Whose idea was it to go hiking in the pouring rain?
Whois idea was it to go hiking in the pouring rain?
Whose idea was it to go hiking in the pouring rain?
Whose Fault or Who’s Fault?
Whether whose fault or who’s fault is correct depends on what you are trying to say. For example, if you are trying to understand which person the blame belongs to, then whose fault would be the correct way to phrase this. That is because whoseis a possessive pronoun, meaning we use it to show possession or ownership.
However, if there is a person named Fault and you are trying to understand who this person is, then who’s fault would be correct. This is because the who’s is a contraction of who is.
Whosefault it is, then?
Who is fault it is, then?
Whose fault it is, then?
Who’s this guy Fault I keep hearing about?
Who is this guy Fault I keep hearing about?
Whose this guy Fault I keep hearing about?
Who’s Phone or Whose Phone?
Whose phone is correct, not who’s phone. Because the phrase is about the person who owns or possesses the phone, we need a possessive pronoun.
One way to confirm that whose is correct is to replace the word with the phrase who is. If the sentence still make sense, then you need who’s, or the contraction of who is. However, if the sentence doesn’t make sense, then you need to use whose.
Whose phone is this on the table?
Who is phone is this on the table?
Whose phone is this on the table?
Who’s Son or Whose Son?
In this example, the correct phrasing is whose son, not who’s son. The reason is that the sentence refers to whom the son belongs. In other words, the sentence is about possession or ownership. So, we need to use a possessive pronoun.
Since whose is a possessive pronoun, it’s the correct choice. This is confusing because using an apostrophe + ‘s’ usually indicates possession. However, who’s is a contraction of who is, and not a possessive pronoun. As a result, you can check that whose is correct by replacing the word with who is. Since the sentence no longer makes sense, you know that who’s is incorrect.
Whose son built the solar-powered robot at the Science Fair?
Whois son built the solar-powered robot at the Science Fair?
Whose son built the solar-powered robot at the Science Fair?
More Whose and Who’s Sentence Examples
Here are examples of how to use whose vs. who’s in a sentence:
Whosefiles are those, andwho’sworking on them today?
Who’swonderingwhosefiles those are?
Whosedog biscuits are those?
Who’shungry for tacos?
Missourians often take a quick trip to St. Louis, a citywhosecentral location makes it a prime spot for staycations.
I don’t knowwho’smisplaced these files.
Stella bought treats for Stanley, a catwhosefavorite snack is made from bacon.
My boss told mewho’sattending the meeting.
Who’sgoing to the beach?
Whose vs. who’s are homophones. That means the two words sound alike in speech but are spelled differently. Other examples of homophones include:
