Search engines review, using its and it's

Riches Communications Newsletter

Issue 4, March 2003

In this issue:

- Search engines review
- It's not right!
- Other web sites of interest

Search engines review

With so many web sites on the internet, it is important to know how to find information quickly and easily. Some search engines have been around for a while and others are relatively new players. This is a brief overview of the current status of major search engines and portals on the internet:

Google - probably the most popular at the moment, indexing over 3 billion web pages. Recently launched Google Australia for localised searches. No paid listings so results are usually based on sites having relevant information to your query.

Yahoo - started as a human-edited web directory before becoming popular as a search portal. In recent times Google has supplied Yahoo with web site listings but Yahoo has just acquired Inktomi and will use their search technology in future.

nineMSN - an Australian portal, is part of the larger MSN network and is the default search page of most versions of Internet Explorer. Has a mixture of paid and free listings and it can be difficult to find relevant results to search queries.

All The Web is a new search engine that is similar to Google. It offers some powerful features to refine searches and is one to watch in the future.

It's not right!

Apostrophes are often used incorrectly. One of the simplest mistakes involves confusing the usage of its (no apostrophe) with it's (with apostrophe).

Its is the possessive form of 'it' e.g. The team won its first game of the year.

It's is a contraction of 'it is' e.g. It's time for the game to start.

While most possessive forms use an apostrophe, 'its' does not. This may explain why the terms are so often confused.

A simple rule to follow - if you substitute 'it is', does the sentence still make sense? If not, use 'its'. If it does, use 'it's'.

Other web sites of interest

Urban Legends Reference Pages - the definitive guide to urban legends, chain emails and internet rumours.

Wotif.com - discount prices on unsold hotel rooms and holidays.

Tucows - library of free and trial software.