There, Their, and They're: How to Use Them Correctly

There, their, and they're are three of the most commonly confused words in English. They sound identical when spoken, which is why they are classified as homophones — words that share the same pronunciation but differ in spelling, meaning, and usage. Mixing them up is one of the most visible writing errors, noticed instantly by readers, teachers, editors, and employers. The good news is that the rules for there, their, and they're are straightforward, and with a little practice, you can master all three permanently.

This guide explains each word clearly, provides dozens of examples, shares memory tricks, and includes practice exercises so you can test your understanding of there, their, and they're.

Quick Overview: There, Their, and They're

There: Place and Existence

There has two primary functions. First, it refers to a place or position — the opposite of "here." Second, it introduces the existence of something, as in "There is" or "There are." Understanding both uses is essential to mastering there, their, and they're.

There as a Place

When "there" refers to a location, it answers the question "where?"

• "Put the box over there."
• "We went there last summer."
• "The restaurant is right there on the corner."
• "I've never been there before."
• "Stay there until I come back."

There as an Introducer

"There" also introduces the existence or presence of something. This is called "existential there."

• "There is a cat on the roof."
• "There are three options to consider."
• "There was a time when this neighborhood was quiet."
• "Is there a problem?"
• "There seems to be a misunderstanding."

A helpful clue: "there" contains the word here. Both words relate to place. If the sentence is about a location or existence, "there" is the correct choice among there, their, and they're.

Their: Possession

Their is a possessive pronoun meaning "belonging to them." It always indicates that something belongs to or is associated with a group of people (or, in modern usage, a single person of unspecified gender). In the there, their, and they're trio, "their" is the one that shows ownership.

Examples of Their

• "Their house is at the end of the street."
• "The students turned in their assignments."
• "Their opinions differ on this issue."
• "The company announced their new product line."
• "Their children attend the local school."
• "The team celebrated their victory."
• "Everyone should bring their own lunch." (Singular "their" for gender-neutral reference)

A helpful clue: "their" contains the word heir. An heir inherits possessions. If the sentence is about something belonging to people, "their" is the correct choice.

Singular "Their"

Modern English increasingly uses "their" as a singular, gender-neutral possessive pronoun: "Each student should bring their textbook." While some traditional grammarians object to this usage, it has been used by respected writers for centuries (including Shakespeare and Jane Austen) and is now accepted by most major style guides.

They're: Contraction

They're is a contraction of "they are." The apostrophe replaces the missing letter "a." This is the simplest member of the there, their, and they're group because it has only one function: it stands for "they are" and nothing else.

Examples of They're

• "They're going to the concert tonight." (They are going.)
• "They're the best team in the league." (They are the best.)
• "I think they're making a mistake." (They are making.)
• "They're not sure about the plan." (They are not sure.)
• "Do you know if they're coming?" (They are coming.)
• "They're already here." (They are already here.)

The definitive test: if you can replace the word with "they are" and the sentence still makes sense, you need "they're." If it does not make sense, you need "there" or "their."

Memory Tricks

Here are proven strategies for remembering the differences between there, their, and they're:

There = Here. Both relate to place and both contain the letters H-E-R-E. If you are talking about a place, use "there."

Their = Heir. Both relate to possession. An heir inherits things that belong to someone. If you are talking about possession, use "their."

They're = They are. The apostrophe is the giveaway. If you can expand it to "they are," use "they're." If expanding it sounds wrong, you need one of the other two.

The Elimination Method. When in doubt, try "they are" first. If it works, write "they're." If not, ask: is this about possession? If yes, write "their." If no, write "there." This step-by-step process solves virtually every there, their, and they're situation.

The Substitution Test

Whenever you are unsure which word to use, apply this simple substitution test:

1. Try replacing with "they are." If the sentence makes sense, use they're.
2. Try replacing with "our" or "his." If it makes sense, use their (it is possessive).
3. If neither works, use there.

Example: "___ going to love this restaurant."

• "They are going to love this restaurant." ✓ Makes sense → They're

Example: "___ dog is adorable."

• "They are dog is adorable." ✗ Does not make sense.
• "Our dog is adorable." ✓ Makes sense (possessive) → Their

Example: "Put it over ___."

• "Put it over they are." ✗ Does not make sense.
• "Put it over our." ✗ Does not make sense.
• It is about location → There

Common Mistakes

There, Their, and They're in One Sentence

To truly demonstrate your mastery of there, their, and they're, here are sentences that use all three correctly:

• "They're going to park their car over there."
• "There are many reasons why they're selling their home."
• "They're happy because their friends are already there."
• "I think they're leaving their luggage there."
• "There is no doubt that they're proud of their achievement."

Why This Confusion Exists

There, their, and they're are confusing because English spelling does not always match pronunciation. All three words are pronounced identically — /ðɛɹ/ — despite having completely different spellings and meanings. This makes them a perfect example of homophones, words that sound the same but differ in meaning.

The confusion is also compounded by autocorrect, which does not always catch these errors because all three are legitimate English words. A spell-checker will not flag "Their going to the store" as incorrect because "their" is a real word — it is simply the wrong one for that sentence. This is why understanding the grammar behind there, their, and they're is more reliable than relying on technology.

Non-native speakers sometimes find there, their, and they're less confusing than native speakers do, because they learn the words by meaning and function rather than by sound. Native speakers, who learned the pronunciation first, are more likely to mix them up in quick, casual writing.

Practice Exercises

Fill in the blank with "there," "their," or "they're."

1. _____ planning a surprise party for her birthday.
2. The kids left _____ toys in the yard.
3. Is _____ any milk left in the fridge?
4. I hope _____ not angry about the delay.
5. We parked the car over _____.
6. _____ new puppy is adorable.
7. _____ are several reasons to be optimistic.
8. Do you know if _____ open on Sundays?
9. The neighbors are selling _____ house.
10. Put the groceries down right _____.

Answers

1. They're (They are planning.)
2. their (The toys belong to the kids.)
3. there (Existential: Is any milk present?)
4. they're (They are not angry.)
5. there (Location.)
6. Their (The puppy belongs to them.)
7. There (Existential: Several reasons exist.)
8. they're (They are open.)
9. their (The house belongs to the neighbors.)
10. there (Location.)

Summary

The there, their, and they're distinction is one of the most important in English writing. There refers to a place or introduces existence. Their shows possession — something belongs to them. They're is a contraction of "they are." Use the substitution test whenever you are unsure: try "they are" first, then check for possession, then default to "there." With this method and a bit of practice, you will use there, their, and they're correctly every time.