Their vs There vs They’re: How to Choose the Right Word

Their, there, and they’re sound alike in most varieties of English, but they do different jobs in a sentence. The quick distinction is: their shows belonging or association, there points to a place or helps introduce what exists, and they’re means they are. The spelling alone can be hard to hear, so choose by meaning and grammar rather than sound.

A useful first step is to read the sentence aloud with a replacement. If they are fits, use they’re. If the sentence points to a location or says that something exists, use there. If it identifies something connected to a person or group, use their. These checks are reliable in ordinary contexts, but consider what the whole sentence means before settling on a choice.

Their shows possession or connection

Their is the possessive form of they. It usually comes before a noun and indicates that something belongs to, is associated with, or is done by the people or things referred to. Merriam-Webster describes their as the possessive form of they and notes that it can refer to what belongs to or relates to them (“How to Use They’re, There, and Their”).

• The hikers packed their lunches before sunrise.
• The museum updated their visitor map. (Here, “their” refers to the museum as an organization.)
• Each student submitted their own sketch.

The substitution test for their

Ask, “Whose?” or try replacing their with my, your, or his or her—whichever makes sense for the intended referent. In “The neighbors painted their fence,” the fence belongs to or is associated with the neighbors. Replacing their with they are gives “The neighbors painted they are fence,” which does not work.

This is a meaning test, not a rule that their can only mark literal ownership. In “The team changed their strategy,” the strategy is connected to the team, even though it is not a physical possession.

There points or introduces

There has several related uses. It can point to a place: “Leave the parcel there.” It can also appear at the start of a sentence to say that something exists or is present: “There are two parcels by the door.” Cambridge Grammar groups the place use and the there is/there are construction in its guidance on there, their, and they’re.

• The spare key is there, beneath the flowerpot.
• There is a note on the refrigerator.
• There were several reasons to reschedule.

The substitution test for there

For a place, try here, in that spot, or another location phrase. “Set the bowl there” can become “Set the bowl on the counter,” if that is the place intended.

For an existence sentence, try exists, is present, or can be found to see whether the sentence is about something being available or present. “There is a seat near the window” means a seat is available in that location. The replacement will not always preserve the sentence’s natural rhythm, but it can clarify the function.

Not every use of there names a physical spot. In “There seems to be a misunderstanding,” it introduces the fact or situation being described. In expressions such as “I’ll be there for you,” it can mean support or availability, rather than a literal location. Follow the sentence’s meaning, not just a rule that there always answers “where?”

They’re is short for they are

They’re is a contraction: the apostrophe marks the letters omitted from they are. Expand it to those two words. If the expanded sentence makes sense, they’re is the right form.

• They’re waiting outside. → They are waiting outside.
• I think they’re ready for the next step. → I think they are ready for the next step.
• The curtains are old, but they’re still in good shape. → The curtains are old, but they are still in good shape.

The word can refer to people, animals, or things. In every case, the substitution remains they are. Do not use an apostrophe to indicate possession in their: they’re jacket is incorrect if you mean a jacket associated with them. Write their jacket.

Singular they: one person, the same three spellings

They can refer to more than one person, but it is also used for one person when that person’s gender is unknown or not specified, and by people who use they/them pronouns. Cambridge’s dictionary entry for they includes examples where they refers to one person whose identity has been mentioned in the sentence. Merriam-Webster explains that singular they takes the verb forms ordinarily used with they: they are, they have, and they were (“‘They is’ or ‘they are’”).

For example: “A guest left their umbrella. They’re welcome to collect it; there is a lost-property desk by reception.” The guest is one person, but the three spellings still perform their usual jobs:

• their umbrella: the umbrella is associated with the guest.
• they’re welcome: they are welcome.
• there is a desk: the sentence says that a desk is present.

The number of people does not decide whether you need their, there, or they’re. Meaning and sentence structure do. In formal writing, follow any applicable house style for pronouns, but don’t “correct” a person’s stated pronouns by changing their reference.

Common errors—and a quick editing routine

Incorrect: “Their going to bring there instruments.”
Correct: “They’re going to bring their instruments.”
The first word expands to they are; the second identifies whose instruments.

Incorrect: “Put you’re bags over their.”
Correct: “Put your bags over there.”
This sentence also confuses your (possessive) with you’re (you are). The location is there.

Incorrect: “There jackets are hanging by the door.”
Correct: “Their jackets are hanging by the door.”
The jackets are associated with the people being discussed.

When proofreading, use this three-question routine:

1. Can I expand the word to they are? If yes, write they’re.
2. Does it point to a place, or introduce something that exists or is present? Use there.
3. Does it come before a noun and show whose or which group’s? Use their.

If a sentence remains confusing, rewrite it briefly to make the intended meaning explicit. For more help with usage, browse WordWise Hub’s grammar topics, check a draft with the basic grammar checker, or explore the dictionary. The best choice is the one that says exactly what you mean—not simply the spelling that sounds right.