There, their, and they’re are probably the most mixed-up words in the English language. You see the mistake everywhere – in text messages, social media posts, professional emails, and even published books. The words sound identical when spoken, which makes the confusion completely understandable. But in writing, getting them wrong is one of the things that makes readers stop and notice, and not in a good way. This guide gives you one reliable test that will sort all three out, every single time.
There refers to a place or introduces a statement (“over there”, “there is”). Their is a possessive pronoun showing something belongs to them (“their book”, “their idea”). They’re is a contraction of “they are” (“they’re coming”, “they’re ready”). The test: replace the word with “they are.” If it works, use they’re. If it does not work, choose between there and their based on whether you mean a place or possession.
Difference Between There, Their and They’re: Comparison Table
| Feature | There | Their | They’re |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meaning | A place or introduces a statement | Belonging to them | They are |
| Type of word | Adverb or pronoun | Possessive pronoun | Contraction |
| Contains apostrophe? | No | No | Yes |
| Test | Replace with “in that place” or “there exists” | Replace with “belonging to them” | Replace with “they are” |
| Example | “Put it over there.” | “That is their car.” | “They’re coming tonight.” |
| Common mistake | Used instead of their or they’re | Used instead of there or they’re | Used instead of there or their |
When to Use THERE
There is used in two main situations. First, it refers to a place or location, as the opposite of “here.” Second, it is used at the beginning of a sentence to introduce the existence of something, in phrases like “there is” and “there are.”
There referring to a place:
“Put the books over there.”
“I have never been there before.”
“She is standing right there.”
“We drove past there yesterday.”
There in “there is” and “there are” constructions:
“There is a problem with the plan.”
“There are three reasons why this matters.”
“There was nobody home when I arrived.”
“There will be consequences.”
A quick test for this use of there: try replacing it with “in that place” for the location meaning, or “it exists” for the introductory meaning. If either makes sense, there is your word.
When to Use THEIR
Their is a possessive pronoun. It shows that something belongs to or is associated with a group of people (them). It works the same way as his, her, its, our, and your – none of which use apostrophes to show possession, and neither does their.
Their showing possession:
“The students forgot their homework.”
“Their house is at the end of the street.”
“The team celebrated their victory.”
“Everyone has their own opinion on this.”
“Their decision surprised everyone.”
The test for their: try replacing it with “belonging to them.” If the sentence still makes sense, their is correct. “The students forgot belonging to them homework” does not work as a sentence but the logic holds — the homework belongs to them — so their is right.
When to Use THEY’RE
They’re is a contraction of “they are.” The apostrophe marks the missing letter “a” from “are.” Every time you write they’re, you could replace it with “they are” and the sentence would mean exactly the same thing. If that substitution does not work, they’re is the wrong word.
They’re meaning “they are”:
“They’re going to be late.” (They are going to be late.)
“I think they’re ready to leave.” (I think they are ready to leave.)
“They’re the best team in the league.” (They are the best team.)
“Do you know if they’re coming?” (Do you know if they are coming?)
Example 1 – All three in one sentence:
“They’re putting their bags over there.”
They’re = they are (putting). Their = the bags belong to them. There = that location.
This is the classic example teachers use and it works perfectly to show all three at once.
Example 2 – School:
Correct: “The pupils left their coats in the cloakroom.”
Correct: “They’re waiting outside for the teacher.”
Correct: “The new classroom is over there, past the hall.”
Wrong: “The pupils left there coats in the cloakroom.” (No – their.)
Example 3 – Social media (where errors are most common):
Wrong: “I can’t believe their doing that.”
Right: “I can’t believe they’re doing that.” (They are doing that.)
Wrong: “Put it they’re.”
Right: “Put it there.” (A location.)
Example 4 – A letter or email:
Correct: “I understand they’re reviewing the application this week.”
Correct: “Their decision will be communicated by Friday.”
Correct: “The office is there on the left as you enter the building.”
Using all three correctly in a professional context is a mark of a careful writer.
Example 5 – Fiction writing:
“There was a moment of silence before anyone spoke.”
“She could see them from across the room, whispering to each other, their faces pale.”
“By the time she reached the door, they’re already gone.” (Wrong – should be “they were.”)
In creative writing, confusing these three pulls the reader out of the story entirely.
The one test that works every time:
Step 1: Try replacing the word with “they are.”
If it works: use they’re.
If it does not work: go to step 2.
Step 2: Ask whether you mean a place or possession.
If you mean a place or introducing something: use there. (Notice “here” is hiding inside “there.” Both refer to places.)
If you mean something belongs to them: use their. (Notice “heir” is hiding inside “their.” An heir inherits things. Their shows what belongs to them.)
Run that two-step test every time and you will never get these three wrong again.
Quick Quiz: There, Their or They’re?
1. “I think ___ going to win the match.”
2. “The children left ___ bags by the door.”
3. “___ is no easy solution to this problem.”
4. “Have you seen ___ new house? It is beautiful.”
5. “She pointed over ___ and said that was where it happened.”
6. “___ putting their bags over there.” What is the first missing word?
There, Their and They’re in Exams
Confusing there, their, and they’re in a GCSE English exam will cost you marks in the spelling, punctuation, and grammar (SPaG) assessment that runs through both Language and Literature papers. Examiners are specifically instructed to look for correct use of homophones like these three. Using the wrong one, even once, flags a gap in basic punctuation knowledge. The good news is that with the two-step test embedded in your writing habits, this becomes one of the easiest marks in the exam to guarantee.
Knowing the difference between there their and they’re is one of the easiest SPaG marks to guarantee with a little practice.Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using “their” when you mean “they’re”:
“I know their coming later.” This is wrong. Replace with “they are” and it makes sense, so the correct word is “they’re.” This is probably the single most common of the three errors in everyday writing.
Using “there” as a catch-all:
Some writers default to “there” when they are unsure, which means they get it right sometimes and wrong half the time. The two-step test eliminates the need to guess. There is never a situation where guessing is necessary if you apply the test consistently.
Forgetting the apostrophe in they’re:
Writing “theyre” without the apostrophe is also wrong. The apostrophe is not optional. It marks the missing “a” from “they are.” In a formal piece of writing or exam, missing apostrophes in contractions are marked as punctuation errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “their” ever used as a singular pronoun?
Yes, increasingly so. When referring to a single person whose gender is unknown or who uses they/them pronouns, “their” is now widely accepted as singular. “Someone left their umbrella by the door” uses their to refer to one unknown person. This usage has been in English for centuries and is now standard in most style guides. Examiners accept it in this context.
Do professional writers ever get these wrong?
Yes, surprisingly often. There, their, and they’re errors appear in published books, national newspapers, and professional websites. The reason is usually speed rather than ignorance. When writing quickly, the brain focuses on meaning and lets the fingers type whichever spelling comes first. Slowing down to apply the test, particularly during proofreading, is how careful writers catch these errors before they publish.
Are there other homophones like this worth knowing?
Yes. English has many groups of homophones that cause similar confusion. To, too, and two work like there, their, and they’re in that they sound identical but mean different things. Your and you’re follow the same pattern as their and they’re. Where, wear, and ware are another group. For each set, the same approach applies: identify what the word means in context and choose accordingly rather than guessing.
Why do so many people find these confusing?
Because English spelling and pronunciation are famously inconsistent. There, their, and they’re evolved from different words with different origins but ended up sounding identical in modern English. The written forms preserved their separate spellings while the spoken forms merged. Anyone learning to write has to consciously learn which spelling carries which meaning, since sound alone gives no clue. The confusion is entirely understandable, which is why a reliable test matters more than simply being told to “remember which is which.”
For more English grammar guidance, the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary entry for there is a useful reference for understanding exactly how each usage works in context.
If homophones interest you, you will find the same kind of careful thinking applies to other commonly confused words on this site, including the difference between affect and effect and the difference between then and than.
The difference between there, their, and they’re is really just a matter of slowing down and applying one simple test. Most people who get these wrong are not ignorant of the rules – they are simply writing too fast to think. Build the two-step test into your proofreading habit and these three words will never cause you a problem again.
The confusion between there their and they’re is one of the most common writing errors at every level of education. Once you have the two-step test firmly in place, there their and they’re will never slow you down again. Every time you proofread your work, run the test on every instance of there their and they’re and you will catch any errors before they cost you marks. It takes seconds and the habit forms quickly.
