How to Use There, Their and They're

The English language has many words much like there, their and they're. Most native English speakers pronounce each the same way (they're homophones, or words that make the same sounds); therefore, it can be tricky to determine which spelling fits the way it is being used in each case. Such spelling problems are sometimes called "demons of spelling." Each spelling means a different thing, and it is important to communicate clearly and correctly in your own written correspondence, especially business or academic writing.[1]

Method 1
Method 1 of 1:

Choosing Which Word to Use

  1. Image titled Write a History Essay Step 17
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    Inspect what you have written, and think about which word you are using and decide how to spell the word you are concerned about using correctly. (Of course, your word would logically have followed information indicating or naming of whom or about what you were talking.) The chosen word would need to agree with the subject or topic to which you refer.
  2. Image titled Use There, Their and They're Step 1
    2
    Use "there" when referring to a certain place; compare "there" to "here" and "where." The place can be either concrete ("over here or there by the building") or more abstract ("it must be difficult to be there in your mind").[2]
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  3. Image titled Use There, Their and They're Step 2
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    Compare "there are" to "here are" and "where are." There plus a "to be" verb such as "are" indicates the existence of something mentioned.[3]
    • "There are antiques here." "Where?" "Look there." "Oh, and, see here, we've found them!"
    • "Are there many of the documents stored here?" "Yes, see them here, where they are safe. Do you see where they are? Right over there!"
    • "There will be a picnic here, and there is a monstrous campground over there across the river. There is one of the places where they are staying tonight."
  4. Image titled Use There, Their and They're Step 3
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    Use "their" and "theirs" to indicate possession. Compare to "heir" -- to inherit possessions as in "an heir of their uncle who had no children." Their is a possessive adjective and indicates that a particular noun belongs to them.[4]
    • "Sam and Jan are heirs of their parents' land and possessions as their legal heirs."
    • "Their things were broken." Compare to "Our things were broken." Yes, it shows possession.
    • "I see their flowers are blooming in their garden." "Yes, from the seeds their grandmother gave to them last fall."
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    Remember that "they're" is a contraction of the phrase "they are." It is not a modifier, but only a pronoun (for a name of who or what) plus the contraction " 're" of the verb "are" (a state of being verb).[5]
    • "They're my friends." Check that "They are my friends" makes sense. Yes!
    • "I would go with you, but they're going to take me." To check, say "They are going to take me." Yes!
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    Ask test questions. Ask yourself these questions, but they may not work in a few cases:
    • For "there," will the sentence still make sense, if you replace "there" with "here" or "where"? If so, it's right.
    • For "their," will the sentence still make sense if you replace "their" with "our" (to see whether it is a possessive sentence), but of course that test phrase would change to whom it belongs. "Ours belongs to us, but theirs belongs to them." Still, if "our" fits logically it is right because it is possessive.[6]
    • For "they're," will the sentence still make sense if you replace "they're" with "they are"? If so, it's right, but if not, then "they're" is the wrong word.
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    Recognize incorrect examples and learn from the mistakes. By looking over others' work with a critical eye, especially by offering proofreading or copyediting help, you can become more sensitized to correct usage and practice it yourself.
    • Wrong: Their is no one here.
    • Wrong: Shelley wants to know if there busy.
    • Wrong: The dogs are happily chewing on they're bones.
    • RIGHT: I can't believe they're leaving their children there, alone!
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    Practice, practice, practice! Get your English teacher or friend to say several sentences aloud that include one of these three words and write down which version they are using. Find grammar quizzes on the internet.[7] Hire a private English tutor if you're still having trouble.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Is this correct? "The police are on their way."
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Correct.
  • Question
    "Accomadate their request."
    Donagan
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    "Their" is correct. The first word is spelled "accommodate."
  • Question
    How do I say: A person's daily schedule will tell you what they're really after in life?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You've said the sentence correctly. They're is short for "they are", as in "they are really after".
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/how-to-use-theyre-there-their
  2. ↑ https://www.dictionary.com/e/their-vs-there-vs-theyre/
  3. ↑ http://guidetogrammar.org/grammar/to_be.htm
  4. ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/there-their-theyre/
  5. ↑ https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/style-and-usage/using-contractions.html
  6. ↑ https://www.grammar-monster.com/easily_confused/there_their_theyre.htm
  7. ↑ https://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/cw-there-their-they're-quiz.htm

About This Article

Michelle Golden, PhD
Co-authored by:
Michelle Golden, PhD
PhD in English, Georgia State University
This article was co-authored by Michelle Golden, PhD. Michelle Golden is an English teacher in Athens, Georgia. She received her MA in Language Arts Teacher Education in 2008 and received her PhD in English from Georgia State University in 2015. This article has been viewed 7,423,105 times.
87 votes - 76%
Co-authors: 150
Updated: October 18, 2022
Views: 7,423,105
Categories: Featured Articles | Spelling | Correct Usage of Words
Article SummaryX

To use "there," "their," and "they're" correctly, remember that there, spelled "e-r-e," refers to certain places or things, as in "let's go over there," or "there are the numbers." "Their," spelled "e-i-r," indicates possession, as in "their flowers are in bloom." You can see that it includes the word "heir"—someone who inherits possessions. To use "they're," with an apostrophe "r-e," remember that it's a contraction of the phrase "they are," as in, "they're my friends." You should be able to replace it with "they are" without changing the meaning of the sentence. For examples and more tricks to help you remember, read on!

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