Their or There / they're: Which Is Correct?
Updated · Which One Is Correct editorial team
Quick answer: This guide clarifies the difference between their, there, and they're to help you choose the right spelling. Their shows possession, there indicates a location, and they're stands for they are. Knowing these distinctions prevents awkward errors in your writing.
The Short Answer
Their is the possessive form of they and shows ownership, as in their car or their home. There refers to a specific place or introduces an existence, while they're is simply the contraction of they are.
People often confuse these words because they sound exactly the same when spoken. Visual cues like apostrophes help you remember that they're includes one, while their and there have no extra marks.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Form | Status | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| their | possessive adjective | you mean belonging to them |
| there | adverb or pronoun | you talk about a place or existence |
| they're | contraction | you combine they and are |
| it | pronoun | you refer to a single thing |
Correct Example Sentences
- The students left their books in the classroom.
- Please put that book over there on the shelf.
- They're going to the park this afternoon.
- Is that their dog or someone else's pet?
- There is a strange noise coming from outside.
- She likes their new haircut very much.
- They're ready to start the meeting now.
- There will be food at the party tonight.
- Their house is painted in bright colors.
- They're waiting for the bus at the stop.
Common Mistakes and Fixes
- They're house is very big.
- Their house is very big.
- Where are they're going next?
- Where are they're going next.
- There is a blue car outside.
- There is a blue car outside.
- The kids are playing their.
- The kids are playing there.
- They're lives are interesting.
- Their lives are interesting.
- Put the letter there on the table.
- Put the letter there on the table.
A Quick Test You Can Use
Replace the word with they are to see if the sentence still makes sense, and if it does, the contraction is the right choice. If you can say the sentence belongs to someone, use their, but if you are pointing to a spot or stating something exists, select there instead.
Related Word Pairs
- its vs it's
- its shows possession while it's means it is
- your vs you're
- your indicates possession and you're stands for you are
- its vs his
- its belongs to a non-human thing while his belongs to a male person
- affect vs effect
- affect is usually a verb and effect is usually a noun
- advise vs advice
- advise is the action to give counsel and advice is the noun for that counsel
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I remember the difference between there and their?
Think of the word for as a reminder that they're needs one, while their and there have none. Use their for possession like their name, and use there for locations like over there.
When should I use there versus they're in a sentence?
Use there when talking about a specific location or when stating something exists. Choose they're only when you can substitute the words they are directly into your sentence without changing the meaning.
Is it okay to use their as an adverb in casual speech?
No, using their as an adverb is incorrect because it is strictly a possessive form. Always use there when you mean a place or existence to maintain proper grammar in all contexts.
Why do people mix up these words so often?
These words sound identical when spoken, making it hard to distinguish them by ear alone. Writers must rely on context and meaning to select the correct spelling for clarity and accuracy.
