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

There, their, and they're cause trouble because your ear cannot tell them apart. On the page, though, each one has a separate job. One points to a place or introduces an idea. One shows ownership. One is a shortened form of two words. Since these words are homophones, they share a pronunciation but not a spelling or meaning.

Readers often notice this mix-up right away, but the fix is simple. Once you know what each word does, you can choose the right one quickly. This guide breaks down the rules, gives plenty of examples, offers memory tips, and ends with practice so you can check yourself.

At-a-Glance Guide to There, Their, and They're

Using There for Location or Existence

There usually does one of two things. It can point to a place, much like the opposite of "here." It can also help introduce that something exists or is present, as in "There is" or "There are." These two uses cover most cases where "there" is the right choice.

There When You Mean a Place

Use "there" when the sentence answers, or implies, the question "where?"

• "Leave the umbrella over there by the bench."
• "My cousins moved there after college."
• "The pharmacy is there, next to the bakery."
• "Have you ever stayed there overnight?"
• "Wait there while I buy the tickets."

There When Something Exists

"There" can also begin a sentence that tells us something exists, appears, or is present. This use is often called "existential there."

• "There is a note taped to the window."
• "There are four names on the list."
• "There was once a small theater on this block."
• "Will there be enough chairs for everyone?"
• "There appears to be a delay at the station."

A quick clue is hidden in the spelling: "there" contains here. Both words can point to place. If you are talking about location or saying that something exists, choose "there" from the there, their, and they're group.

Using Their to Show Ownership

Their means "belonging to them." It connects something to a group of people, animals, organizations, or, in common modern English, one person whose gender is unknown or not specified. Among there, their, and they're, this is the ownership word.

Their in Everyday Sentences

• "Their apartment overlooks the river."
• "The players packed their uniforms after practice."
• "Their views changed after the meeting."
• "The agency updated their website last week."
• "Their parents arrived before noon."
• "The choir enjoyed their performance."
• "Someone forgot their jacket in the classroom." (Singular "their" for gender-neutral reference)

Another memory aid: "their" contains heir. An heir receives property or belongings. If the idea is that something belongs to someone or is connected with them, "their" is the form you need.

How Singular Their Works

English speakers often use "their" for one person when the person's gender is unknown, irrelevant, or intentionally unspecified: "Each visitor should show their pass." Some traditional grammarians have objected to this, but singular "their" has appeared in respected writing for centuries, including works by Shakespeare and Jane Austen, and most major style guides now accept it.

Using They're as a Short Form

They're is a contraction for "they are." The apostrophe marks the missing letter "a." This word has only one job: it replaces "they are." It never means "belonging to them" and never points to a place.

They're in Everyday Sentences

• "They're meeting us at the museum." (They are meeting.)
• "They're the only applicants left." (They are the only applicants.)
• "I suspect they're waiting for a better offer." (They are waiting.)
• "They're not ready to announce the winner." (They are not ready.)
• "Can you tell whether they're serious?" (They are serious.)
• "They're already in the conference room." (They are already in the conference room.)

The best check is direct: replace the word with "they are." If the sentence still sounds right, write "they're." If "they are" does not fit, the answer must be "there" or "their."

Easy Ways to Remember Them

Use these simple reminders when there, their, and they're start to blur together:

They're = They are. The apostrophe signals a contraction. If you can say "they are," use "they're." If that expanded version sounds strange, choose another word.

Their = Heir. Both connect to ownership. An heir receives possessions. If the sentence is about what belongs to people, write "their."

There = Here. Both words have H-E-R-E and both can refer to place. If you mean a location, "there" is usually right.

Use elimination. Start by testing "they are." If it works, choose "they're." If it fails, ask whether the sentence shows possession. If it does, choose "their." If neither idea fits, "there" is almost always the answer.

A Quick Replacement Check

When you are stuck, run through this three-step check:

1. Replace it with "they are." If the sentence works, use they're.
2. Replace it with "our" or "his." If that works, use their, because the word is possessive.
3. If both replacements fail, use there.

Example: "___ saving seats for us."

• "They are saving seats for us." ✓ Makes sense → They're

Example: "___ garden needs water."

• "They are garden needs water." ✗ Does not make sense.
• "Our garden needs water." ✓ Makes sense (possessive) → Their

Example: "Set the tray over ___."

• "Set the tray over they are." ✗ Does not make sense.
• "Set the tray over our." ✗ Does not make sense.
• The sentence points to a place → There

Errors Writers Often Make

Putting There, Their, and They're Together

These sentences use all three forms correctly, each with its own job:

• "They're leaving their bikes over there."
• "There are several signs that they're enjoying their trip."
• "They're relieved because their seats are still there."
• "I heard they're storing their equipment there."
• "There is no question that they're proud of their work."

Why These Words Get Mixed Up

There, their, and they're are easy to confuse because English spelling often separates words that sound exactly alike. All three are pronounced /ðɛɹ/, even though their spellings and meanings are different. That makes them a classic case of homophones: words with the same sound but different meanings.

Technology does not always help. Autocorrect and spell-check tools may miss the error because "there," "their," and "they're" are all real English words. A checker might not catch "Their going to the store" because "their" is spelled correctly; it is just the wrong word for the sentence. Knowing the grammar is more dependable than trusting software alone.

Native speakers may be especially likely to mix these words up in fast, casual writing because they learned the sound long before they studied the spelling. Some learners of English find the distinction easier because they learn each word by function: place, possession, or "they are."

Try It Yourself

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

1. _____ bringing dessert to the picnic.
2. The runners forgot _____ water bottles.
3. Is _____ a restroom near the entrance?
4. I think _____ nervous about the interview.
5. We left the stroller over _____.
6. _____ new kitten hides under the sofa.
7. _____ are two ways to solve the problem.
8. Do you know whether _____ closed on Mondays?
9. The tenants renewed _____ lease.
10. Place the packages right _____.

Answer Key

1. They're (They are bringing.)
2. their (The water bottles belong to the runners.)
3. there (Existential: Is a restroom present?)
4. they're (They are nervous.)
5. there (Location.)
6. Their (The kitten belongs to them.)
7. There (Existential: Two ways exist.)
8. they're (They are closed.)
9. their (The lease belongs to the tenants.)
10. there (Location.)

Final Takeaway

Keep the three jobs separate and the choice becomes much easier. There points to a place or introduces the existence of something. Their shows that something belongs to them. They're means "they are." When you are unsure, test "they are" first, then check for ownership, and use "there" if neither test fits. That habit will solve nearly every there, their, and they're problem.