How to Correctly Use Their, There and They're

Avoid embarrassment by correctly using "their," "there" and "they're."

The English language can be confusing. Almost every grammar rule has exceptions and many words sound alike but are spelled differently and have different meanings. These words are called homophones and they often trip up even native English speakers. Go back over your document to check "their," "there" and "they're" and be sure you have spelled each one correctly. There are a couple of tricks you can use to keep the spellings straight.

Things You'll Need

• Time for learning, memorization and self-testing

Instructions

Know the Difference

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 something belongs to "them." For example, "The students have finished their papers" or "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" or "They're the nosiest neighbors on our block."

Test Yourself

1. 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 are using the word correctly.

2. When using "their" in a sentence, does it still work if you replace their with our? If so, you have used the word correctly.

3. Remember that "they're" 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.

4. Practice with a friend or teacher, especially if you're still confused. Ask the person to read sentences aloud that contain one of the problematic words. Write down the correct version.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're using a computer, make sure the grammar check feature on your word processing program is turned on. Any misuse of the words will be flagged.