There, their, and they’re are homophones: they sound alike but differ in spelling, meaning, and grammatical role. That makes pronunciation an unreliable guide and substitution a much better one.
Each form has a distinct job. There relates to place or existence, their connects people or a group to something, and they’re compresses the words they are.
Editorial note: Every message and example in this guide is original and designed as a starting point. Personalize names, memories, outcomes, and tone before sending.
THE SHORT ANSWER
How to get the wording right
Use there for a place or to introduce the existence of something: “The file is there” or “There is one issue.” Use their for possession: “Their file is ready.” Use they’re as the contraction of they are: “They’re ready.”
A SIMPLE METHOD
How to write a message that sounds sincere
There often concerns place
Use there for a location, direction, or point in a discussion. It can also begin statements such as there is or there are.
Their shows possession
Use their before a noun connected to the people, animals, or entities being discussed.
They’re means they are
Expand the contraction. If they are fits the sentence, they’re is correct.
Use word clues
There contains here, another place word; their contains heir, someone who receives possessions; they’re contains an apostrophe for omitted letters.
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Turn your idea into original wording
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Create a quote freeExamples using there
There can point to a place or introduce the existence of something.
Place the signed forms over there.
There are three questions left to answer.
The main difference appears there, in the final column.
There is no need to submit the request twice.
We visited once, but we hope to return there next year.
Examples using their
Their appears before what belongs or relates to the group.
The researchers published their findings in June.
Each team presented their preferred option.
Customers can update their contact information online.
The dogs waited beside their owners.
The company changed its policy after employees shared their concerns.
Examples using they’re
They’re can always be expanded to they are.
They’re reviewing the final proposal now.
I believe they’re available after lunch.
They’re the people who designed the original system.
If they’re delayed, we can begin without them.
They’re not required to attend both sessions.
All three words together
Compare the different roles in one context.
They’re taking their notes over there.
There is no doubt that they’re proud of their work.
Their office is over there, but they’re working remotely today.
They’re checking whether their names appear there on the list.
There are several reasons they’re changing their approach.
WHAT TO AVOID
Common mistakes that weaken the message
Using sound as the test
All three words sound alike. Identify place, possession, or they are instead.
Forgetting existential there
There does not always point to a physical place; it also begins structures such as there is and there were.
Confusing their and its
Their can refer to plural owners and is also widely used as a singular, gender-neutral form; its usually refers to one thing or entity.
FINAL CHECK
Make the final version yours
Use three quick questions: Does it mean they are? Choose they’re. Does something belong to them? Choose their. Does it concern place or existence? Choose there.
Because pronunciation cannot expose the error, make these words part of your visual proofread. A search for each form catches mistakes that fluent reading often skips.
QUESTIONS, ANSWERED
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between there, their, and they’re?+
There relates to place or existence, their is possessive, and they’re is the contraction of they are.
Is it their coming or they’re coming?+
Use “they’re coming” because the phrase means “they are coming.”
Is it over their or over there?+
Use “over there” when pointing to a place. Their must describe something possessed, such as “over their desk.”
Can their refer to one person?+
Yes. Singular they and their are widely accepted when a person's gender is unknown, irrelevant, or nonbinary, as in “Each applicant should bring their ID.”