Have you ever paused while writing to wonder whether you should use their, there, or they’re? You’re not alone. These three words sound alike in American English, but they have different meanings and grammatical functions.
The difference between their vs. there vs. they’re is simple: their shows possession, there refers to a place or indicates that something exists, and they’re is a contraction of they are.
Understanding these differences will help you write more clearly, avoid common grammar mistakes, and choose the correct word with confidence.
What Is the Difference Between Their, There, and They’re?
Although these words sound similar, each one serves a different purpose.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Their | Shows possession or association | Their dog is friendly. |
| There | Refers to a place or introduces existence | The dog is over there. |
| They’re | Short for they are | They’re walking the dog. |
These words are homophones, meaning they share the same pronunciation but have different spellings and meanings. The easiest way to choose the right one is to understand what your sentence means.
1. Their: Shows Possession
Their is a possessive determiner that shows that something belongs to, relates to, or is associated with a person or group referred to as they.
Use their when you want to indicate ownership or a connection between people and something else.
Examples:
- The students forgot their homework.
- Sarah and Mike invited us to their wedding.
- The company updated their website.
- The birds returned to their nests.
In each sentence, their connects the people, organization, or animals to something associated with them.
You can often replace their with another possessive word, such as his, her, or our, depending on the intended meaning.
A useful tip: If you’re talking about something that belongs to or is associated with someone, their is probably the right choice.
Their can also refer to one person when the person’s gender is unknown, irrelevant, or when that person uses they pronouns.
For example: “Someone left their phone on the table.”
2. There: Refers to a Place or Something That Exists
There has several uses, but two are especially common: referring to a location and introducing something that exists or happens.
Use “there” for a place:
- Your keys are over there.
- We went there last summer.
- Please put the boxes there.
- I’ll meet you there at noon.
In these examples, there answers the question “Where?”
Use “there” to indicate existence:
- There is a problem with the printer.
- There are three emails waiting for you.
- There was a loud noise outside.
- There will be enough food for everyone.
In sentences like these, there introduces something that exists or occurs. It does not indicate ownership.
A useful tip: If you can replace there with here or another location phrase in a sentence about place, it may be the correct word. If the sentence begins with “there is” or “there are,” it may be introducing something that exists.
Remember that there is not always about a physical location. It can also refer to a stage, situation, or point in a discussion.
3. They’re: Means They Are
They’re is a contraction of they are. The apostrophe shows that letters have been omitted to combine the two words.
Use they’re when you mean they are, whether you’re describing people, animals, objects, or situations.
Examples:
- They’re going to the movies tonight.
- They’re excited about the new project.
- I think they’re waiting outside.
- They’re the best players on the team.
Each sentence makes sense if you replace they’re with they are.
For example:
“They’re waiting outside” becomes “They are waiting outside.”
However, “Their waiting outside” does not work if you mean that people are waiting. The possessive word their cannot replace the subject and verb in that sentence.
A useful tip: Whenever you’re unsure whether to use they’re, expand it to they are. If the sentence still makes sense, they’re is likely correct.
Their vs. There: How to Tell Them Apart
The difference between their and there comes down to possession versus place or existence.
Use their when something belongs to or is associated with someone. Use there when referring to a location or introducing something that exists.
Compare these examples:
- Their house is near the park.
- The house is over there.
- Their friends are waiting there.
- There is a restaurant near their office.
Notice that both words can appear in the same sentence because they perform different jobs.
A common mistake is writing “There going to bring there books.” If you mean that people will bring the books associated with them, the correct sentence is:
“They’re going to bring their books.”
The first word means they are, while the second indicates possession.
There vs. They’re: Which One Is Correct?
The difference between there and they’re is also straightforward.
Use there for a location or to introduce existence. Use they’re when you mean they are.
Compare:
- There is a new store downtown.
- They’re opening a new store downtown.
- The tickets are over there.
- They’re keeping the tickets in a safe place.
One way to check your choice is to replace they’re with they are. If the sentence becomes incorrect or changes meaning, you probably need there instead.
For example:
“___ are two chairs in the room.”
You would write “There are two chairs in the room,” not “They are two chairs in the room” if your intention is simply to state that two chairs exist there.
However, “They are two chairs” could be grammatical in a different context, such as identifying two objects. The intended meaning matters.
Easy Ways to Remember Their, There, and They’re
If you still find these words confusing, try these simple memory tricks.
1. Their = possession
Think of their as similar to my, your, or our. It connects something to the person or group associated with it.
Example: They brought their lunch.
2. There = place or existence
The word there contains here, which can remind you of location.
Example: Leave your bag there.
Remember that there can also introduce existence, as in “There is a solution.”
3. They’re = they are
The apostrophe signals a contraction. Expand the word to they are to check whether it fits.
Example: They’re ready to leave.
These memory tricks are helpful, but the most reliable method is to check the meaning and grammatical role of the word in the sentence.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced writers sometimes mix up these words, especially when typing quickly. Here are a few mistakes to watch for.
| Incorrect | Correct | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| There dog is barking. | Their dog is barking. | The sentence shows possession. |
| Their going to school. | They’re going to school. | The sentence means “they are going.” |
| They’re house is beautiful. | Their house is beautiful. | The house is associated with them. |
| Put the bags over their. | Put the bags over there. | The sentence refers to a location. |
| There excited about the trip. | They’re excited about the trip. | The sentence means “they are excited.” |
One common source of confusion is assuming that their always refers to multiple people. In modern English, it can also be used as a singular, gender-neutral possessive, as in “Each student should bring their notebook.”
Another mistake is thinking that there only refers to a physical place. In sentences such as “There is a better way,” it introduces the existence of something.
Finally, remember that they’re always means they are. It does not show possession. The possessive form is their.
Final Tip: Check the Meaning Before You Choose
When deciding between their vs. there vs. they’re, don’t rely on pronunciation alone. Instead, ask yourself three quick questions:
- Does it show possession or association? Use their.
- Does it refer to a place or introduce something that exists? Use there.
- Can I replace the word with “they are”? Use they’re.
For example: “They’re meeting their friends over there.”
Each word has a distinct role: they’re means they are, their shows association, and there identifies a place.
With a little practice, you’ll recognize the difference between these commonly confused words and use each one correctly in everyday writing.