These three look tiny, but they do very different jobs: their, there, and they’re. They’re classic homophones (same sound, different spelling), so your ear won’t save you. Meaning and grammar will. Once you know what each word does, picking the right one becomes almost automatic.
Table of Contents
Why These Words Get Mixed Up
Their, there, and they’re sound identical in everyday speech, so the brain often grabs whichever spelling feels familiar. That’s why this mix-up shows up in emails, captions, and even polished writing. The fix is not “listening harder.” It’s recognizing the job each word does in the sentence.
One more reason this trio is sneaky: all three are short, and all three are common. When a word is frequent, your eyes can glide over it and still “feel” correct. Treat their, there, and they’re like labels: each label belongs to one specific meaning.
Meaning and Grammar Role
Here’s the clean split: their points to possession, there points to place or sets up a clause (like there is), and they’re is only they are. No overlap. If you keep the roles straight, the spelling follows. ✅Source
Their
Their is about belonging. It usually sits right before a noun: their bag, their plan, their idea.
- Meaning ownership / connection
- Common neighbor a noun right after it
There
There often answers where, but it also works as a sentence opener: There is a reason, There are options.
- Meaning location or “existence” setup
- Common neighbor is / are / a place phrase
They’re
They’re is the short form of they are. The apostrophe marks missing letters, not ownership.
- Meaning they are
- Common neighbor an -ing verb or adjective
Apostrophe Reality Check
They’re has an apostrophe because it’s a contraction. Their does not have an apostrophe because it’s about possession. In this trio, the apostrophe never signals ownership.
Their: Possession and Belonging
Their marks a relationship: something belongs to “them,” is connected to “them,” or is associated with “them.” In grammar terms, it often behaves like a possessive word placed before a noun: their seats, their notes, their schedule. ✅Source
Where You’ll Usually See “Their”
- ✅ Correct Their project finished early.
- ✅ Correct I like their idea and tone.
- ✅ Correct The team shared their results with the group.
What “Their” Cannot Mean
- ❌ Wrong Put the bag over their. (This wants there because it’s a place.)
- ❌ Wrong Their going to arrive soon. (This wants they’re = they are.)
Meaning Cue That Shows Up a Lot
If their is present, the sentence is usually pointing at a thing (or idea) that belongs to them. That “belongs to them” meaning is the whole reason their exists.
There: Place and Sentence Opener
There is the location word: over there, right there, down there. It can also introduce a clause in the “existence” pattern: There is / There are. That second use is not pointing to a physical spot; it’s setting up what exists or what’s available. ✅Source
“There” As a Place Word
- ✅ Correct Your keys are there on the counter.
- ✅ Correct We’ll meet there after the call.
- ✅ Correct I left it right there, next to the notebook.
“There” As a Sentence Starter
- ✅ Correct There is a reason this feels confusing.
- ✅ Correct There are two options on the menu.
- ✅ Correct Is there a quiet place to sit?
Common “There” Phrases You’ve Probably Seen
- location over there, right there, from there
- set up there is, there are, there was, there were
- idiom there you go, there it is, there we are
They’re: The Contraction Form
They’re is only one thing: they are. That’s it. If the sentence does not allow they are without changing meaning, they’re is not the right choice. The apostrophe is doing a shortening job, not a possession job. ✅Source
Where “They’re” Fits Naturally
- ✅ Correct They’re ready for the meeting.
- ✅ Correct They’re working on a draft.
- ✅ Correct I think they’re excited about the plan.
What “They’re” Cannot Do
- ❌ Wrong I borrowed they’re headphones. (Ownership needs their.)
- ❌ Wrong The snacks are over they’re. (Location needs there.)
- Key Point
- They’re always expands to they are. If that expansion feels weird, they’re isn’t the match.
- Common Confusion
- Seeing an apostrophe and assuming ownership. In English, apostrophes often mark missing letters in contractions, not possession.
Common Mix-Ups and What Changes
Mixing these up usually changes the meaning, not just the spelling. Their talks about belonging. There talks about place or introduces what exists. They’re says they are. When the wrong one appears, the reader has to pause and translate, even if they understand what you meant.
Ownership vs. Location
✅ Correct I left their folder on the desk.
✅ Correct I left it there on the desk.
❌ Wrong I left it their on the desk. (The sentence tries to point to a place, but their can’t do that.)
Statement vs. Contraction
✅ Correct There is a new message.
✅ Correct They’re sending a new message.
❌ Wrong There sending a new message. (This needs they’re = they are.)
Patterns That Usually Point to the Right One
- Their is commonly followed by a noun: their plan, their notes, their decision.
- They’re commonly fits before an adjective or an -ing verb: they’re ready, they’re working, they’re excited.
- There commonly appears with is / are or place language: there is, there are, right there, over there.
A Simple Sound-Alike Detail
Because their, there, and they’re are homophones, sound does not carry meaning here. The spelling you choose has to match the role in the sentence, not the pronunciation.
Comparison Table
This table keeps the trio in one place so you can compare their, there, and they’re by function, not by sound.
| Word | Core Meaning | Typical Grammar Role | Example | Common Wrong Swap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| their | belongs to them / connected to them | possessive word before a noun | Their tickets are in the bag. | ❌ “Put it over their.” (needs there) |
| there | in that place, or “existence” setup | adverb (place) or sentence opener (there is/there are) | There are two seats left. | ❌ “Their are two seats left.” (needs there) |
| they’re | they are (short form) | contraction of a pronoun + verb | They’re meeting us at noon. | ❌ “I borrowed they’re pens.” (needs their) |
FAQ
Is “they’re” ever used for ownership?
No. They’re is only they are. Ownership is expressed with their, which signals belonging.
Can “there” mean something other than a physical place?
Yes. There can act as a sentence opener in patterns like there is and there are, introducing what exists or what’s available. It can also appear in familiar phrases like there you go.
Which one is correct before a noun: “their,” “there,” or “they’re”?
In most everyday sentences, the word right before a noun is their because it marks possession: their car, their idea, their schedule.
Why does “they’re” have an apostrophe but “their” doesn’t?
The apostrophe in they’re shows letters missing from they are. Their is not shortened; it’s a full word tied to ownership, so there’s no apostrophe.
Are these three pronounced differently?
In most accents, their, there, and they’re are pronounced the same, which is why they’re a classic homophone set. Spelling depends on meaning, not sound.