How to Correctly Use Their, There and They're

The English language can be confusing, and every grammar rule you learn has its exceptions. In addition, many words that sound alike are actually spelled differently and have different meanings. Such is the case with there, their and they're--three little words that often trip up even native English speakers.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Time for learning, memorization and self-testing

Know the Differences

1. Start with "there," the easiest of the three words to learn. Use "there" when referring to a place or location. The place can be something physical ("My purse is over there on my desk.") or abstract ("There is a storm brewing.").
2. Use "their" when indicating possession. "Their" is a possessive adjective that indicates that something belongs to "them." (“The students have finished their papers.” “Their home was recently painted.”)
3. Remember that "they're" is a contraction of the words "they" and "are." It can only be used to indicate that the subjects (they) are taking action (are), both active and passive. (“They’re going to Miami for spring break.” “They’re the nosiest neighbors on our block.”).

Test Yourself

4. If you’re still confused, test the words whenever you’re using them in a sentence. For example, if you wrote "there," try replacing the word in the sentence with "here." If it makes sense, then you were using the word correctly.
5. When using "their" in a sentence, does it still work if you replace their with our? If that works, you have used the word correctly.
6. Remember that "there" is shorthand for "they are". Try replacing they’re with "they are" every time you use it, and if that works, you’ve got it.
7. Practice with a friend or teacher, especially if you’re still confused. Have them read sentences aloud that contain one of the problematic words, and write down the correct version.

Tips & Warnings

• If you’re using a computer, make sure the auto-correct feature on your word processing program is turned on. This means that any misuse of the words will be flagged, usually with a green underline. There are no excuses for misspellings if you use this feature.
• Purchase one of many great grammar and usage books on the market, including: The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation by Jane Straus, The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition, by William Strunk Jr., or English Grammar for Dummies by Geraldine Brooks. Ms. Straus also has a great interactive "they're/their/there" quiz on her website.
• The English departments at many large universities host free, online grammar lessons and quizzes.