Their or There: Which Is Correct?

Updated 2026-10-03 · Which One Is Correct editorial team

Quick answer: The choice between their or there depends entirely on meaning. Use their to show ownership or association with a group. Use there to indicate a specific location or to introduce a statement. Getting this right prevents common grammatical errors.

The Short Answer

"Their" shows possession, "there" refers to a place.

Many people confuse these words because they sound identical when spoken aloud. Without visual cues, the ear cannot distinguish the function, leading writers to swap them accidentally in digital communication.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Form	Status	Use it when
their	Correct	You need a possessive pronoun
there	Correct	You describe a location or existence
their	Pronoun	Replacing a possessive adjective
there	Adverb	Pointing out a spot or thing

Correct Example Sentences

They forgot their umbrellas during the sudden storm.
Please put the boxes over there by the door.
Their garden blooms with roses every summer.
Is their car parked in the driveway?
There is a beautiful park nearby.
We will meet there at noon.
Did you see their new house?
There are many reasons to visit.
Their dog loves to chase squirrels.
Leave your coat there for now.

Common Mistakes and Fixes

They went there house for dinner.: They went to their house for dinner.
Their is a problem with the plan.: There is a problem with the plan.
Put the book their on the shelf.: Put the book there on the shelf.
I like there new neighbors a lot.: I like their new neighbors a lot.
Their are many ways to solve this.: There are many ways to solve this.
The kids finished their homework there.: The kids finished their homework there.

A Quick Test You Can Use

Try replacing the word in question. If you can swap it with the word theirs, then you need the possessive form. If you can swap it with the phrase in that place, then you need the locational form. This simple substitution test works for almost every sentence.

Related Word Pairs

they're vs their vs there: they're is a contraction for they are.
its vs it's: its shows possession, it's means it is.
your vs you're: your shows possession, you're means you are.
their vs them: their is possessive, them is an object pronoun.
here vs heir: here means this place, heir inherits.

More Example Sentences

Their dedication to the project inspired the entire team.
Please leave your luggage there until the bus arrives.
There is a subtle difference between these two shades of blue.
Their new restaurant has received excellent reviews from locals.
We spotted a deer standing there in the middle of the road.
There are several options available for your consideration.
Their voices echoed loudly through the empty hallway.
Keep the extra supplies there for the next shift.
There might be a better way to approach this challenge.
Their success was the result of years of hard work.

Quick Practice

cat loves to sleep on the warm rug.

Their

I saw the mountains in the distance.

there

is no point in arguing about it further.

There

The students finished assignments before lunch.

their

We will meet at the main entrance.

there

are many birds singing outside the window.

There

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use they're instead of their?

No, they're is a contraction for they are. Their shows possession. Using they're when you mean ownership creates a grammatical error that changes the sentence structure entirely and confuses the reader.

Is there any situation where both are correct?

No, the words serve completely different grammatical functions. One indicates possession while the other indicates location or existence. You must choose the word that matches the specific meaning you intend to convey.

How do I type these quickly without errors?

Slow down when typing. Think about the meaning before hitting the keys. If you are talking about ownership, type their. If you are talking about a place, type there. Mindful typing reduces mistakes significantly.

Do these words sound different in accents?

No, they are homophones in standard American English. They sound exactly the same regardless of regional accent. This identical pronunciation is exactly why people often mix them up when writing without checking.