💡 How-To
The Difference Between There, Their, and They're
This is the most common grammar mistake in English. Once you learn the rule, you'll never mix them up again.
The Rules (Simple Version)
| Word | Meaning | Memory Trick | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| There | A place or "it is" | Contains "here" " — a place | The book is over there. / There are 5 apples. |
| Their | Belongs to them | Contains "heir" " — something you inherit (own) | Their car is red. / Their house is big. |
| They're | They are (contraction) | The apostrophe replaces the "a" in "are" | They're going to the store. / They're happy. |
The Test Method
- Can you replace it with "they are"? → Use they're
- Can you replace it with "belongs to them"? → Use their
- Neither works? → Use there
Examples in Sentences
- There (place): "Put it over there."
- There (it is): "There are three options."
- Their (ownership): "That's their dog."
- Their (ownership): "The students forgot their books."
- They're (they are): "They're coming to dinner."
- They're (they are): "They're the best team."
Other Commonly Confused Words
- Your vs. You're: Your = ownership. You're = you are
- Its vs. It's: Its = ownership. It's = it is
- Effect vs. Affect: Effect = noun (result). Affect = verb (to influence)
- Then vs. Than: Then = time sequence. Than = comparison
The memory trick that works: "They're" has an apostrophe " — just like "you're" and "it's." If you can say "they are" and it makes sense, use they're. If you can say "belonging to them," use their. If neither works, use there.
⚠️ Auto-correct trap: Spell-check won't catch these " — they're all real words. Always proofread manually, or read your writing aloud. If it sounds wrong, it probably is.
The bottom line: There = place. Their = ownership. They're = they are. The apostrophe in "they're" always means a letter is missing " — in this case, the "a" in "are." If you can substitute "they are" and the sentence still works, use they're.