Do you ever stop and wonder whether to write their, there, or they’re?
You’re not alone! This is one of the most common mistakes in English. The three words sound the same, but they have completely different meanings and uses.
In this guide, you’ll learn the difference between their, there, and they’re, along with simple examples and an easy memory trick (mnemonic) to help you remember them.
What Does “Their” Mean?
Their is a possessive adjective. It shows that something belongs to a group of people.
Think of their as meaning “belongs to them.”
Examples
Their office is on the third floor.
Their car is parked outside.
The students brought their books.
The company updated their website.
Their presentation was impressive.
In each example, something belongs to a person or group.
What Does “There” Mean?
There usually refers to a place or location.
Examples
- The meeting room is over there.
- Please put the documents there.
- We arrived there early.
- Is there a supermarket nearby?
- The conference is being held there.
There can also be used to introduce something.
Examples
There is a problem with the printer.
There are several people waiting.
There was a delay in the project.
What Does “They’re” Mean?
They’re is a contraction of “they are.”
The apostrophe replaces the missing letter a in are.
Examples
They’re attending the conference.
They’re very busy this week.
I think they’re right.
They’re working from home today.
They’re excellent communicators.
The Simple Test
When you’re unsure, use these quick checks:
For “They’re”
Replace it with “they are.”
Example:
- They’re ready for the meeting.
- They are ready for the meeting.
It works, so they’re is correct.
For “Their”
Ask yourself:
Does something belong to them?
Example:
- Their laptop is on the desk.
The laptop belongs to them, so their is correct.
For “There”
Ask yourself:
Am I talking about a place or introducing something?
Example:
- The restaurant is over there.
This refers to a location, so there is correct.
Common Mistakes
Incorrect
❌ Their going to the meeting.
Correct
✅ They’re going to the meeting.
Incorrect
❌ Please leave the package in they’re office.
Correct
✅ Please leave the package in their office.
Incorrect
❌ Their is a problem with the system.
Correct
✅ There is a problem with the system.
Incorrect
❌ The employees left there laptops on the table.
Correct
✅ The employees left their laptops on the table.
Their, There, and They’re in Business English
Using the correct word is important in emails, reports, and presentations.
Examples
✅ Their proposal was approved.
✅ There is a meeting at 2 p.m.
✅ They’re preparing the quarterly report.
✅ Their team achieved excellent results.
✅ There are several issues to discuss.
✅ They’re looking forward to the client meeting.
Memory Tricks To Remember Their, There, Or They’re
Their = Possession
The word their contains heir.
An heir inherits possessions.
Think:
Their = belongs to them
There = Place
The word there contains here.
Both words refer to places.
Think:
There = location
They’re = They Are
The apostrophe replaces the a in are.
Think:
They’re = they are
Final Thoughts On Their, There, OR They’re
Although their, there, and they’re sound the same, they have very different meanings.
- Their = belongs to them
- There = a place or introduces something
- They’re = they are
By remembering these simple rules and practicing regularly, you’ll avoid one of the most common mistakes in English and sound much more confident in your writing.