How to Choose "There," "Their" or "They're"

Confused about using these three little words? Try these tips for remembering how each should be used.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Willingness to proof-read!

1. Write your sentence. Now read it aloud to make sure you've identified all the instances of "there," "their" and "they're" -- it's easy to overlook them! Apply the following rules to determine whether or not you've chosen the right form(s).

2. Rule #1: "There" always designates a place or figurative location. Example: "I have never been there." Example: "There are two more errands on my list." Example: "There you are."

3. Rule #2: "Their" always signifies possession. Example: "Their address has changed." Example: "The cows flicked their tails."

4. Rule #3: "They're" always means "they are" (it's a contraction). Does your sentence still make sense if you substitute the words "they are"? Then choose this form! Example: "They're always the last to arrive." Example: "They don't even know they're late."

5. Re-read your sentence. Are you satisfied that you made the right choice? Congratulations! Your writing has just improved.

Tips & Warnings

• If editing a long document, print it out before reading it out loud. There's something about reading from a hard copy that makes it easier to catch mistakes.