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Their vs There vs They're: The Complete Guide

Master the differences between their (possessive), there (location or existence), and they're (contraction of they are) with examples and quick tests.

By WordToolSet Editorial · Published Feb 13, 2026 · Updated May 3, 2026 · Reviewed against editorial standards

Three words, three jobs

"Their," "there," and "they're" sound identical but serve completely different grammatical roles. "Their" is a possessive pronoun showing ownership. "There" indicates a place or introduces the existence of something. "They're" is a contraction of "they are." Confusing these three is arguably the most common homophone error in English.

Because spell-checkers will not catch the mistake (all three are valid words), you need a mental checklist to get them right every time.

When to use each form

Each word has a clear function. Once you learn to test for that function, the correct spelling becomes obvious.

"Their" shows possession: Their project deadline is Friday. Their car is parked outside.
"There" refers to a place or introduces existence: The report is over there. There are three options to consider.
"They're" is always expandable to "they are": They're planning to launch next month. They're the best candidates we interviewed.

The substitution test

Try expanding the word to "they are." If the sentence still makes sense, write "they're." If you can replace the word with "our" or "his" and the sentence works, write "their." If neither substitution works, write "there."

This three-step test takes seconds and catches virtually every error. Run it during editing, and these mistakes will disappear from your writing.

Common pitfalls

Autocorrect and voice-to-text tools frequently choose the wrong form. "Their going to be late" is a classic autocorrect error. Another trap is possessive phrases like "their own," which some writers mistakenly spell as "there own." When editing, search your document for all three spellings and verify each one individually.

How To Use This Guide

Read the core rule first, then compare it against the sentence you are editing.
Check whether the word choice changes meaning, tone, grammar, or simply emphasis.
Use the matrix below to jump into definitions and related terms when the sentence still feels unclear.
Finish by reading the revised sentence in context, because many usage mistakes only appear at paragraph level.

Editorial Review Criteria

We review each guide for practical usefulness, not just correctness. A good usage guide should give the rule, show the exception, and help a reader make a decision in a real draft.

When examples are available, we connect the article to corpus-backed definitions, synonyms, contrasts, and sentence evidence so the advice is grounded in actual word behavior.

Word Context Matrix

Use this quick matrix to compare core words in this guide and jump directly into deeper lookup pages.

their

Misspelling of there.

there

That place (previously mentioned or otherwise implied).

they're

Misspelling of there.

theirs

That or those belonging to them; the possessive case of they, used without a following noun.

there is

third-person singular simple present indicative of there be. Used to indicate the existence of something physical or abstract. See also there are.

Example sentences pulled from our lexical corpus to show natural context.

their

That was probably what influenced their decision.

there

There's a problem there that you don't see.

they're

I hate those spiders. They're always there to freak me out when I'm cleaning.

theirs

Our views are in agreement with theirs as to the essential points.

there is

Data: For any event, there is an infinite number of possible outcomes. Our choices determine which outcome will follow.

Editing Checklist

Confirm the sentence has the meaning the guide recommends, not just a similar sound or spelling.
Check the surrounding paragraph for tone, because a technically correct word can still feel too formal or too casual.
Look at the related words above when the choice depends on precision, emphasis, or contrast.
Keep the simpler version when both options are correct and the simpler version is easier to read.

Decision Test

Before applying this guide, write the sentence both ways and ask what changes for the reader. If the change only affects surface style, it may not be worth making.

If the change affects meaning, grammar, credibility, or reader trust, use the more precise option and keep a short note for future edits.

FAQ

Why do so many people confuse these words?

All three are pronounced identically in every English dialect. Since the ear cannot distinguish them, the brain must rely on grammar rules during writing. Without conscious effort, the wrong spelling slips through, especially in fast drafting.

Will grammar checkers catch these errors?

Modern grammar tools like Grammarly and most word processors can flag their/there/they're confusion with reasonable accuracy. However, they are not perfect. Manual proofreading with the substitution test remains the most reliable method.

Is this mistake considered a serious error?

In professional and academic writing, yes. It is one of the first things editors and readers notice, and it can undermine the credibility of otherwise strong writing. In casual texting or social media, most people will not judge you for it.

Review note: This guide is reviewed by the WordToolSet editorial team for practical usefulness, example quality, and alignment with our editorial standards. Source and data notes are documented on the data sources page, and corrections can be submitted through the corrections workflow.

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